How important was the poll tax in Thatchers

How important was the poll tax in Thatcher’s downfall? Learning objectives: • Understand 3 key reasons for Thatcher’s resignation in November 1990. • Evaluate the relative importance of each reason. • Describe the events leading to her resignation. • Analyse key sources.

Reasons and evidence Reason Evidence Unprecedented protests; poor Unpopularity of the poll performance of Tory Party in opinion tax, 1989– 1990 polls; loss of safe seat (Eastbourne) Key debate: in Oct 1990 by-election What were the actual reasons 1987 stock market crash for the her fall, and which provided Disputes over Balance of payments problems opportunity? economy the excuse, or thefollowing ‘Lawson boom’ Resignation of Nigel Lawson in 1989 Disputes over Europe Resignation of Geoffrey Howe

Why was the poll tax so disastrous? 1. What was the problem, according to Thatcher, with the old ‘rates’ system? 2. How would the Community Charge (better known as the ‘poll tax’? ) fix this? 3. Why did ministers find it difficult to defend the poll tax? 4. What happened when the poll tax was introduced in Scotland in 1989? 5. Why do you think Thatcher pressed ahead with introducing the poll tax in England Wales anyway? 6. What did the Anti-Poll Tax Unions urge people to do, and what happened to them as a result? 7. How serious was in March 1990 anti-poll tax demo in Trafalgar Square?

Loss of support The reasons for Thatcher’s diminishing support amongst the PCP can be divided thus: 1. Concern that her policies were unpopular with voters and would lead to increased support for Labour (e. g. the poll tax) 2. Frustration with her leadership, esp. heated disagreements with those who disagreed with her (e. g. over the economy and Europe) Of course, the two factors are interlinked.

The economy • Check pp 122– 123. • Find evidence of both strengths and weaknesses in the economy between 1987 and 1990 and add them to your notes. • Stock market crash in 1987, following 1986 ‘Big Bang’ in the City. • ‘Lawson boom’ (rapid economic expansion) as a result of his 1988 budget led to balance of payments problems. • 1990 inflation was higher than in 1980 – failure in one of Thatcher’s key economic goals. • Lawson resigned 1989, frustrated that Thatcher listened more to her personal adviser, Alan Walters.

Relations with Europe by 1990 • Sep 1988: Thatcher’s speech in Bruges against closer political union of European states (also known as ‘federalism’). Inspired Euroscepticism within Party, but NOT an anti-EEC speech. • July 1990: UK joined the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM), a system for making European currencies closer in value, in preparation for a single currency. Thatcher later claimed she was misled over this. • Oct 1990: important meeting of European leaders in Rome to discuss single currency and greater political union. Thatcher was vehemently against both, leading to her ‘No, no!’ speech in the Commons.

‘No, no!’ in context https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Liy. Nr_LALl U from 32 minutes.

Geoffrey Howe’s views • One of the original Dries. First Chancellor during the monetarism years, by 1990 was Foreign Secretary. • Very pro-Europe, encouraged joining of ERM. • From his memoirs: “Hearing that speech [‘No, no!’] was like being married to a clergyman who had suddenly proclaimed his disbelief in God. ” • “I wanted to change the policies, not the leader. But if that meant the leader had to go, then so it had to be. ”

Geoffrey Howe’s speech • The quiet viciousness of Howe’s resignation speech on 13 November 1990 shocked everyone. Previously he’d been compared to a sleeping pill. • Find examples of specific things he criticises Thatcher for (all masked in politeness, but devastating blows nonetheless!) • Summarise the message of his speech in one sentence. • How valuable is it for understanding why Thatcher fell? (FYI 1 st leadership ballot was on 20 November, less than a week later)

Timeline of the fall • Use the copy of Lynch p 158 to construct a timeline of Thatcher’s fall. • Start the timeline in December 1989 with Anthony Meyer’s leadership challenge, then go back to the top. • Emphasise when and how she lost support from the PCP. • Explain why Major became her successor.

Quick quiz 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Where was the poll tax first introduced? How many people were at the Trafalgar Square demonstration? Which group urged people not to pay? What was the month and year of the poll that said Labour was more popular than the Tories? Which safe seat did the Tories lose to the Liberals in October 1990? What was the name of President of the European Commission? What was Thatcher saying ‘No, no!’ to? What does ERM stand for? Who resigned in 1989? When was Howe’s resignation speech? Which politician sparked the leadership challenge by announcing his candidacy first? How many rounds of ballots were there in the 1990 leadership battle?

Make your judgement … • … on the relative importance of the reasons for Thatcher’s fall. • How many were there? • Complete the diamond ranking exercise and explain the position of each one, as well as the links between them.

Homework – FNL • Continue revising for the mock exam. Opportunity! • Lecture on 1975 referendum by Dr Robert Saunders of QMUL – Tues 24 Jan. • 7. 30 pm, at St Nicolas’ Hall, Bury Street, Guildford, GU 2 4 AW. • It’s free!