Poll Tax Rebellion

by Danny Burns

The gripping inside story of the biggest mass movement in British history, which at its peak involved over 17 million people. Using a combination of photos, text, and graphics, and drawing from the voices of activists and non-payers, it describes the everyday organization of local anti-poll tax groups and chronicles the demonstrations and riots leading up to the battle of Trafalgar. It shows how the courts were blocked, the bailiffs resisted, and the Poll Tax destroyed. The final chapter draws from our experience to present a radically new vision of change from below.

Danny Burns was secretary of the Avon Federation of anti-Poll Tax Unions and coordinated the campaign in the South West. He was also a nonaligned member of the All-Britain Federation national committee.

Genres: Politics, History, Nonfiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1992

Reviews

[Dante]

very neat narrative of the anti-poll tax struggle - dismisses any nonsense mythologising that would put groups like Militant as effective organisers, and really gets into the concrete community-based efforts (whether that be of propaganda and network recruitment, anti-bailiff action or legal support) that ensured the movement could cohere without ossifying or becoming rigid. Perhaps rushes over the question of workplace organising and its possible relation to the community efforts, but demonstrates effectively the hostility to illegality/community politics embedded within union leadership and its structures.

As anarchist freesheet Autognomeput it at the time:

"The Militant Tendency grip on the poll tax movement is slowly being undermined with independent links growing between non-~Mili dominated groups. From the start these irrelevant trot tossers have sabotaged independent action and attempted to control the resistance
for their own ends. Now people are starting to recognise them for what they are - scabs and grassers. Whenever you point this out to them they whinge that they are being “picked on" or “witch-hunted" by anarchists. The ducking-stool is too good for them. They can't keep the lid on OUR movement"

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great defence of working-class self-organisation. My only chagrin is Burns’ definition of the “labour movement” is far too narrow and subsequently his critiques of it fall short.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m sure that there are far more objective histories of the revolt against Britain’s “Community Tax” in the late 1980s and early 1990s than this, but I haven’t bothered to look for them. I hope that at least some of them have referred to this as a primary source, because, as biased as he is, the author was a witness to some of the most thrilling events of the period, and wrote this book with the memory still fresh in his mind. The book includes dozens of images from the press and from the flyers of the anti-poll tax unions (APTUs) and others who fought its imposition.

I found myself thinking about the reception of “Obamacare” in the States, another highly unpopular tax (as it was ruled by the Supreme Court to be a tax). I don’t regard it as being comparable in terms of the burden placed on taxpayers to the Poll Tax of England, but its interesting to note how the grassroots movement against it compares to the behavior of the Tea Party and other opposition to the Affordable Care Act. Anyone interested in seeing how effective resistance to government-imposed levies can work in the modern world should be familiar with the Poll Tax rebellion, and this book is a fine place to start, especially from the point of view of understanding tactics.

[R. Reddebrek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive and very interesting history of the largest protest movement in UK history. It explains the chronology of developments, keeps the factional fighting of the dozen or saw left parties understandable and is packed full of anecdotes and very useful tips and advice for anyone facing similar attacks by the state, local government, courts and the press.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

REALLY interesting book on this topic. Highly recommended. Gives a lot on a subject that isn't covered well enough at all.

[David Gross · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative look at the elements that made the poll tax resistance succeed, the challenges the movement faced, and the dynamics of how the resistance and the government's attempts to repress it played out.

[tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

good informative overview of the poll tax resistance movement from someone who was involved. full of details you never really hear about elsewhere, with emphasis on the movement's decentralised/leaderless nature. find it on libcom.org as a PDF.