The downfall of thatcher

The Community Charge - or Poll Tax

• Introduced in Scotland in 1989 and England in 1990
• Replaced the existing 'rates' system in financing local government
• Was seen by many as unfair

The Poll Tax; what did it mean?

• Officially called the Community Charge
• Idea came from the Adam Smith Institute
• There would be 38 million poll-tax payers compared with only 14 million ratepayers
• The charges for local services would be more justly and evenly spread

THE POLL TAX; WHAT DID IT MEAN?

• Many local authorities were unpopular and only a minority voted in local elections
• The community charge would help make local authorities more answerable to the people
• It was hoped this would also get rid of loony left councils like the Greater London Council

The 1987 general election

• Showed some recovery of the Labour party from its disastrous showing in 198
• The government maintained it share of the popular vote
• Still had a majority of 100 but lost 22 seats

The One Nation Conservatives

• Refers to those close to Edward Heath and Michael Heseltine
• Felt that the government should use taxation to help the disadvantaged
• Were not 'one of us' and were strong opponents of Thatcher

Michael heseltine

• Thatcher's Defence Secretary up until his resignation in 1985 over the Westland Affair
• Charismatic, ambitious, and - following his resignation - a potential foe of Thatcher's
• Re-entered the political stage in Nov 1990 when he announced he would contest a leadership election 
• This brought Thatcher's downfall, even though John Major would succeed Thatcher as Prime Minister

Read P.149-51

other factors

Unpopularity

• Sir Anthony Meyer stood against her in 1989
• Seen as a 'stalking horse'
• Expected a big hitter to enter the contest

HAEMORRHAGING cabinet ministers

• She lost Lawson (Chancellor) in 1989
• Nicholas Ridley (Trade and Industry) in 1990
• Geoffrey Howe (Leader of the House of Commons) in 1990
• Howe's resignation speech to the Commons spelt disaster

Heseltine's leadership bid was launched the day after Howe's resignation speech