PHIL MAXWELL

The campaign against the Poll Tax twenty years ago was a massive nationwide campaign. “Can’t Pay – Won’t Pay” was the slogan of the thousands of Anti Poll Tax Unions. There was a big campaign of non payment in East London which organised meetings and supported people if they were summoned to court for non payment or threatened by Bailiffs. Militant was the principle organisation behind the mass non payment campaign. The Anti Poll  Tax Unions took to the courts where around 20 million people were summoned. They were supported in the courts by Militant supporters and entire courts grinded to a halt and lawyers volunteered to take up appeals. Local meetings were held on estates and a great feeling of solidarity was created in working class communities against Thatcher’s tax. Eventually the tax was defeated and substantial damage was inflicted on the Government. Rarely has a mass campaign permeated so deeply into society with such an impact. The Pay No Poll Tax campaign demonstrated the potential power of solidarity against a repressive government.

Tower Hamlets activists at a Glasgow demonstration against the tax, 1990

Public organising meeting against the Poll Tax. The Davenant Centre, East Lon

Voting for a mass campaign of non payment. The Davenant Centre, East London 1990

Children with a message. Chicksand estate, Tower Hamlets 1990

Children with a message. Chicksand estate, Tower Hamlets 1990

No Poll Tax meeting with a local councillor. East London 1990

East London activists demonstrating in Glasgow, 1990

Campaigners outside the home of Horif Miah who was threatened with bailiffs. East London 1991

Campaigners outside the home of Horif Miah who was threatened with bailiffs. East London 1991

Anti Poll Tax messages. Glasgow 1990