Poll Tax Rebellion - Danny Burns

Full scanned version of the definitive grassroots history of the mass working class movement which defeated Margaret Thatcher's poll tax. 17 million people refused to pay the tax, which defeated it and brought Maggie's time as Prime Minister to a premature end.

Submitted by Steven. on April 10, 2013

This book tells 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 organisation of local anti-poll tax groups and chronicles the demonstrations and riots leading up to the battle of Trafalgar Square. 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.

Digitised by libcom.org in April 2013, reproduced with kind permission of the author

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Comments

NannerNannerNa…

10 years 11 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by NannerNannerNa… on April 10, 2013

Download's not working. I'm actually interested in this

A Wotsit

10 years 11 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by A Wotsit on April 11, 2013

Worked OK for me Nanner- give it another go

NannerNannerNa…

10 years 11 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by NannerNannerNa… on April 11, 2013

Okay, it was my tablet's fault. I just got it by downloading it on a computer.

I hope this is good!

Jason Cortez

10 years 11 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Jason Cortez on April 11, 2013

available from Freedom books for a pound until the 13th April

Fozzie

3 years 5 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Fozzie on September 26, 2020

Unfortunately pages 186 and 187 are missing from the PDF, which is a shame because it's a bit slagging off the Labour Party for failing to support non-payment of the Poll Tax.

If anyone has access to the book and can scan in those two pages as PDF I can merge it with the main PDF...

EDIT - now added pdf and text.

Reddebrek

3 years 5 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Reddebrek on October 2, 2020

Thanks Fozzie,
Just got stuck into the middle of this despite already being in the middle of a bunch of books and articles. Its great, I find the early accounts of Militant and the breakdown of how they groups like them are able to position themselves as the "leadership" of much larger movements very good.

Its stuff I know from experience with their heir SPEW, but I often found that people who don't have experience with the Trots can be somewhat incredulous when they hear people complaining about how very small groups can both be totally unrepresentative and yet also regularly catapult themselves into the controlling body. But its sadly usually just a question of them having more numbers than a competitor and taking advantage of wider populations inexperience, trust and other commitments.