Anti-Poll Tax Unions Explained

Anti-Poll Tax Unions (APTUs) were set up in local areas throughout Scotland,^[1] England and Wales to organise against the poll tax (officially the "Community Charge") brought in by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government in 1989 (Scotland) and 1990 (England and Wales).^[2]

The first anti-poll tax union was established in Maryhill, Glasgow, April 1987.^[3]

An All Britain Anti-Poll Tax Federation ("the Fed") was set up to co-ordinate the activities of the local unions.

The Anti-Poll Tax Unions played a major part in the legal actions in which around 20 million people were summoned for non-payment of the tax.^{[4] [5]} Those jailed included Terry Fields, MP for Liverpool Broadgreen.

External links

• Militant's Proud Role in defeating the poll tax
• Peter Taffe The Rise of Militant
• Danny Burns Poll Tax Rebellion
  • reviewed by Wildcat UK
  • reviewed in Workers Solidarity

Notes and References

1. https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/history/day-250000-warrants-were-issued-15682014 The day 250,000 warrants were issued over Glasgow’s refusal to pay poll tax
2. Book: Gross, David M.. 2014. 99 Tactics of Successful Tax Resistance Campaigns. Picket Line Press. 978-1490572741. 33.
3. Protests, law and order in the twentieth century page 145
4. Web site: The Poll Tax: The battle that brought down Thatcher.
5. Book: Gross, David M.. 2014. 99 Tactics of Successful Tax Resistance Campaigns. Picket Line Press. 978-1490572741. 77–78.