The struggle against the poll tax in Scotland

Lavalette, Michael and Mooney, Gerry (1989). The struggle against the poll tax in Scotland. Critical Social Policy, 9(26) pp. 82–100.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/026101838900902607

Abstract

April the first, 1989, was an historic day in Scotland. Traditionally April Fool's Day has historically given rise to a wide-range of pracical jokes and stunts, a day for laughing as friends and enemies are caught unawares. But this year's April Fools Day was not a laughing matter for the vast majority of Scotland's population. As 25,000 demonstrators marched through Edinburgh in a protest against the Poll Tax, 3.9 million Scots started receiving their first Community Charge' bills, replacing the Domestic Rating System which was abolished under the Abolition of Domestic Rates etc (Scotland) Act, 1987 The Poll Tax legislation for England and Wales, contained in the Local Government Finance Act, 1988, will come into force on April 1, 1990.