(en) France, Organisation Communiste Libertarie (OCL) - Thatcher is dead, day of jubilation for the working class (fr)

Not very politically correct to celebrate the death of someone. Ben just that we had 
another reason and even more regrettable that it has not been unsoldered 30 years earlier! 
Not very materialistic reduce the crushing of the working class and the advent of 
deregulation to a person. Yes, but even if we can only communicate with the joy that is 
expressed today in the working class of Britain. ---- We post some meaningful 
relationships, and especially the singing of Liverpool supporters as he spoke a few months 
ago. ---- The Day That Thatcher dies ... 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4BCUWopQQ4&feature=player_embedded# ! ---- Ian Bone's 
site: information on festivals in current or future to celebrate as it should be the death 
of Thatcher. http://ianbone.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/thatcher-died-this-morning/

Maggie thatcher dies When we, re all avin a party "Song of Liverpool supporters." 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-4FJcnX0i8 ...
Remember the book by Henri Simon "To the bitter end, the miners' strike in Britain (March 
1984-March 1986)" published Acratie (12 euros including shipping ... Acratie the Essart, 
86310 La Bussiere, check payable to Acratie)

And the Poll Tax brochure below published in 1990. Future founders of the newspaper "Mad 
Seagull" did seem a brochure about a popular struggle and mass which marked the beginning 
of the decade in England, the struggle against the "Poll Tax". This was an opportunity for 
some one-es of us to get across the Channel and meet peers involved in this fight. Our 
discussions continued for some time. The text presented here demonstrates that these 
meetings were held hot during this period.

The Seagull Enraged - BP 403-62206 Boulogne Cedex or
lamouette.enragee @ wanadoo.fr

http://lamouetteenragee.over-blog.com/

Thatcher is dead, day of jubilation for the working class

During the struggle of the Poll-Tax, which pitted the working class in Britain to the 
policy of Margaret Thatcher, a few members of the group of Boulogne-sur-mer went to London 
in solidarity but also to understand how it is mobilized and we resisted neighborhoods to 
achieve to reduce the bourgeoisie.

Some of these back and forth with fellow-Communist Anarchist Federation, Class and 
group-War, at the time we pulled material for publication. The brochure we published in 
1990 is still available on the site:

Brochure Poll Tax

In 1990, the future founders of the newspaper "Mad Seagull" did seem a brochure about a 
popular struggle and mass which marked the beginning of the decade in England, the 
struggle against the "Poll Tax."
It was the opportunity for some one-es of us to get across the Channel and meet peers 
involved in this fight. Our discussions continued for some time. The text presented here 
demonstrates that these meetings were held hot during this period.

Preface

For over a year, the British Isles. are shaken by a mass movement and class: the fight 
against POLL TAX. Millions of people refuse to pay a new tax which hits the poorest to the 
richest advantage. Occupations councils, demonstrations and clashes in the streets, 
refusing to cooperate administrative staff, sabotage and destruction of files, active 
solidarity between communities, workers, the unemployed, neighborhoods, regions ... are 
all forms of direct action that challenge the fierce political supporters of Margaret 
Thatcher towards the working class.
Certainly, the United Kingdom has a long tradition of strikes and social movements "hard" 
.. In recent years, the miners, the book, those ports and shipyards, have amply 
demonstrated. This time, by its very nature, it is a movement that exceeds corporatism and 
affect the whole of the working class, the workers, but also the unemployed, immigrants, 
women at home ... in a word proletariat.

Deal with partial information voluntarily truncated if the media in France, we wanted to 
try to explain as clearly as possible what happens in a large neighboring country. When we 
rightly denounces the horrors of these systems of Eastern Europe who claimed to be 
"communist", "socialist". "Workers" but were in fact the most state of 1'exploitation 
capitalist, it is important to say and repeat that as Western capitalism causes: poverty, 
unemployment, exclusion and racism.
Patterns and Western politicians rejoiced too soon: in Britain, ultra-liberals to social 
democrats and reformists experience it.

I. WHAT THE POLL TAX?

Until 1989 the local tax on housing, known as OLD RATFES SYSTEM (ORS) was calculated as 
the French housing tax on the value of housing. The Conservative government of Margaret 
Thatcher, continuing its ultra-liberal economic policy, decided to remove the ORS and 
replace it with a new tax whose official name is COMMUNITY CHARGE (Community Tax). The 
Tories (Conservatives) are the only ones to cling to that term is reassuring. Soon, people 
will identify the nature of the new tax that far from being "community" is deeply unequal. 
Where the popular name POLL TAX which can be translated as "head tax".

1) The operation of the Poll Tax

The Poll Tax is payable by any person over the age of 18, regardless of property and 
income. Concretely, this means that an employer residing in a beautiful villa will pay the 
same as the Poll Tax laborer who works for him and lives in public housing as their income 
and housing conditions are of course very different. The new tax is fundamentally unfair. 
The Poll Tax is not the same for all countries. These are the tips of each municipality 
that determine the amount after public deliberation (or secret).

The central government "recommends" to each municipality "tax rate it deems" acceptable 
"but every city council (or district in large cities like London) is free to fix the final 
amount. The unemployed and pensioners should pay "only" 20% of new tax but will be 
calculated on a national average fictional decided by the government. But the perverse 
effects of the poll tax did not stop there. Women of the working class will be 
particularly affected: those that represent a large percentage of lower wages and, of 
course, many do unpaid work (caring for children, home etc ...) In all case, they will 
have to pay full price.

Families of African and Asian origin, traditionally many to live under the same roof, will 
pay a heavy price and that, especially since they live in impoverished neighborhoods of 
the city centers, where the amount of the poll tax is often highest.

2) The Scotia: a test region

The Poll Tax came into force in Scotland in April 1989 and April 1990, a year later in 
England and Wales. Why this discrimination?
Scotland, very hard hit by the recession in its heavy industries, is an area that still 
has a strong tradition of working. Brunt of economic restructuring policy of the 
Conservative government, workers and many more unemployed Scottish devote to Thatcher 
hatred flawless. It is therefore logical that the "Iron Lady" has wanted to pay 1ES 
Scottish first and not by mere meanness, but to test the reactions of a population which 
is overwhelmingly negative. Role played by Scottish in the fight against the Poll Tax is 
as we will see later, of primary importance. Finally, note that if we speak in this 
brochure fight in Britain and not the United Kingdom, it is because the latter In addition 
to Great Britain (Scotland, England and Wales) includes Ulster or Northern Ireland. Yet 
when we write this text, we do not yet know the date of the introduction of the Poll Tax 
in Ulster. Given the situation of armed struggle that exists in Northern Ireland, the 
Government Thatcher knows what it is to be expected in this region. Yet it will be 
difficult, unless totally losing face, of Ulster exempt from the poll tax.

3) A little history ... Maggie would she short memory?

Beginning of 1381, it is suicide for the king's officers to go collect the tax, the poll 
tax first. The hatred of the people is growing, the more royal commissioners engage with 
impunity processes revolting in the census of adults. For example, the information comes 
from Kent, they reserve the right to "review" the girls to determine their state of 
virginity. If this is not the case, they are subject to the poll tax, since deflowered, 
they are considered adults. A wind blows on the revolt of England Richard II, enumerators 
are hunted or beaten by angry farmers. collectors London and Middlesex refuse to do their 
work in the countryside, they feel therefore their task as suicide ...
What worries now King Richard II is the triumphant arrival chaotic and rebellious peasants 
of Canterbury. Their anger is large and growing, as their number. We Jun. 10, 1381 the six 
days will be hard to follow for England.
In 1371, Richard II passed a law capitation tax per capita, which also cost his Robert 
Hales, the treasurer of King June 15, 1381, for six months and already people growls, but 
the crown still contains the popular anger. Poll Tax But the king starves the workers, 
peasants and other poor England national crisis!
Remember that tax is then to one shilling per individual adult over 15 years, have three 
days of work, and in the calculation of the tax, a family of five adults leaves the royal 
treasury fifteen days of work.
Rebellion is now the gates of London. Mutiny of Essex, Kent and the insurgents of the poor 
gathered here and there when walking to London, passing through London Bridge June 13, 
1381, headed by Wat Tyler worker, very angry. furious mass, yet magnified by the poor of 
London already busy ransacking the palace of John of Gaunt, the king's uncle, walking in 
the capital very encouraged by the preaching of radical priest John Ball.
On 15 June 1381, the revolt peaked; Hales, the king's physician, Sudbury - counselor to 
the king - and some foreigners were beheaded, nothing will deter Tyler. Yet that same day, 
the leader of the people of Wat Tyler was murdered by the Mayor of London William Walworth 
whose house had been destroyed by the insurgents. Richard II continued repression and 
finally deprived of its leader, the people in his campaign and returns its shallows 
miserable, angry, frustrated, hurt, death, defeated .. . Later in Coventry, John Ball is 
stopped, it is hanged.

Source: "Another Journal" (# 1, May 1990)

II. STRUGGLES ANTI-POLL TAX

The poll tax is so unpopular that it causes a huge wave of protest. Where the Poll Tax has 
already been applied in Scotland, it is in the country that is mobilized, and that is in 
different forms.
Actions in Britain are worthy examples and it is important for us to know how the 
organization operates. To do this, the best thing to do is to examine some specific cases 
very specific, different resistances Poll Tax.

First we must distinguish two kinds of opposition:

The first is a legal refusal to the Poll Tax and this refusal is that the Labour Party in 
opposition to non-payment.
The second objection is that the non-payment campaign, calling for civil disobedience led 
by anarchists,. Trotskyists and some people at the base of the Labour Party, disagreed 
with the direction.
We are only interested in the second form because it is the only one that can be effective 
without a second thought and electioneering, with reservations, however, that non-payment 
supported by 'Militant' (1) in fact takes political thought back to the ranks of the 
Labour Party.

Scotland

Since the announcement of the law on the Poll Tax, and its application in Scotland April 
89, local groups were formed spontaneously everywhere, in addition to those formed by 
anarchists and 'Militant'. Knowing that the law provides that municipalities themselves 
decide the amount of the fee is during the meetings of municipal councils to set this 
amount, what happened the first signs anti-Poll Tax. This is what marked the beginning of 
the movement.

After a year of Poll Tax, the number of people who have not paid, now exceeds one million, 
or 22% of the population. This is 30% of the population that is not paid or are not 
registered or are but are serious delays in payment. There is no identity card in the UK, 
so that personal data collection is not systematic, so it must be registered to pay tax.
before February 1990, the Regional Council Strathclyde sent reminders 353,000, which 
represents 20% of those who are registered but who have at least three months late to pay. 
Before Christmas in the region of Lothian, 76,000 reminders were sent. In this region, 
there are over 200,000 people in arrears. But now municipalities, most Labour, dropped 
their "dogs" bailiffs. The law limits the number of bailiffs in each region. That Lothian 
has 45. They need at least 15 years to treat each case of non-payment ...
In addition, these messengers have limited power, they can not get in people without their 
consent. Faced with this, the municipalities and their bailiffs use threats and 
intimidation. And a company called LOVE HM sent letters threatening illegal non-payment at 
their next visit, bailiffs could break into their homes.

Also, when trying to seizures, illegal procedures are used. In November 1989, a lady of 
Edinburgh, who had been seized his hi-fi for not having registered, challenged the 
bailiffs for sale. His friends and neighbors, supported by activists anti-Poll Tax, 
decided to stop them. Was broad support. Workers Derrick, who had heard, were collected 
and sent him money. At the last minute, the municipality has abandoned Labour.
February 6, bailiffs tried to "seizures" without warning, Musselburgh, and in smaller 
towns I'Est and Central Region Lothian . During the following days, activists anti Poll 
Tax by car drove the officers, and warned by megaphone people not to open their doors. 
Leaflets with a telephone number of emergency were distributed. Car tires bailiffs were 
repeatedly slashed, and windshield covered with vaseline, so they could not see anything. 
Two of them were caught in a pub, verbally insulted, and photographed.

On November 17, the company ushers LOVE HM received in turn a visit. In fact, more than 40 
protesters anti-Poll Tax, children and a dog occupied their offices. A parody of the 
seizure was made, and flags were hung at the windows. Mr LOVE called the police, claiming 
that the furniture was ransacked and personnel assaulted. However, even the police 
acknowledged that it was a peaceful protest. The procurator fiscal has seen the occupation 
on TV and demanded that the largest possible number of these protesters are charged. 
Finally 17 non-paying released on June 20, at 10:00 in the court of Edinburgh, to 
Lawnmarket High St.
This is obviously an attempt to intimidate, and it is important that support is the most 
massive. International support is even more critical, also send your protest letters to 
the following address: Procurator Fiscal, Queens ferry, St Edinburgh EH2

Despite all the intimidation and threats, there has not been a sell order, for 
non-registered or non-payment in Scotland.

(1) Trend Trotskyist infiltrated the Labour Party (see 'strategy and intervention extreme 
left')

ENGLAND AND WALES

Resistance in England and Wales, is also organized. And millions of English and Welsh 
refused to register. This represents more than 40% in some areas of London. Groups in 
Sheffield, Nottingham, London and elsewhere organize committees and distribute telephone 
numbers "emergency" in the workplace.
A Sheffield, members of NALGO (union officials) refused to grant their colleagues records 
housing allowance, and workers of social security, strike, pledged to boycott all work 
related to the Poll Tax.

The most common resistance. is to alter in any manner whatsoever the municipal councils 
that determine the amount of the Poll Tax.
Whenever, hundreds of people are mobilizing. Just since the end of February, this happened 
to Stroud in Gloucester (400 and 1500 people two weeks later, when the meeting had been 
postponed), Manchester, Swindon (over 700 people) in Hilingdon (London : a hundred people) 
Huddersfield (200 people sing and throw various things to disrupt the meeting).
Often, the police are called to protect councilors. This is the beginning of systematic 
confrontation. A Shepton Mallet, with 300 people stormed the Council stones bombard two 
police cars, broke with 5 young.
Harringay A (London), March 6, hundreds of protesters threw missiles at the building of 
the Council and on the forces of order. Police officers were injured and 13 people arrested.
Wallasey Same disorders and Walsall.
A Bristol, 1000 people from disturbing a meeting of left trying to free a protest that the 
police arrested him. Later are 2000 people who prey on city council, five cops wounded.
Weston-Super-Mare, 1,000 people were fighting in the corridors of the municipality after 
forced entry, 2 cops hospitalized.
A Norwich (1000 pers.), Maidenhead (700 people), Birmingham (150 pers.), Reading (600 
pers.), Gillingham (150 pers.), Exeter (500 pers.), Derwentside (200 pers.) same events: 
town meetings interrupted or disturbed in different ways (songs, shouted slogans, jets of 
any kind), fighting with police, smashed windows municipalities.
's a long list: Notthingam, Southampton, riots in Hackney, Swindon again Brixton, 
Sheffield, Colchester ...

So that the anti-Poll Tax is more effective in England and Wales, to enjoy the Scottish 
experience, twinning groups are made between English or Welsh, Scottish with groups.

III. THE FAILURE OF THE POLL TAX

Given the scale of the anti-Poll Tax, several attempts to break the movement were carried 
out. All proved or are proving to be failures, and the movement continues to grow and harden.
Indeed, the number of non-paying constantly changing but is still on the rise, because 
many people are registered in late and have always paid nothing. It adds more Scots who 
had paid the first year and have joined the campaign of non-payment for the second year.
In England, the number of people not registered (the registration deadline was December 
1989) that the Poll Tax officials are in chaos as bureaucratic delays of several months 
are planned before being sent the first invoice (1). The practice of lowering bailiffs in 
Scotland proved completely ineffective against the large-scale mobilization of communities 
against them. A point that several municipalities have abandoned this tactic.

Their project to make room for withdrawals from bank accounts (2) is also unsuccessful. 
First, because it is physically impossible to details of bank accounts of thousands of 
non-paying and even if it was long and expensive process leading to full, only 5-6% of 
non-payers would be penalized . Then because banks fear losing customers and become 
unpopular by practicing these repressive methods. After this cut is aborted. Another 
tactic has been attempted, it particularly despicable in principle. Because of lack of 
filing, the Poll Tax officials do not have access to non-paying for the most part, they 
tried to attack the people who are actually stuck and in particular to the unemployed.
again only it is a total failure. When they asked the office workers unemployment benefits 
(3) to block files unemployed who have not paid the poll tax, they categorically refused 
the role of informer and expressed their solidarity with the unemployed. Other officials 
are threatening to strike if one of their colleagues is penalized for non-payment. 
Solidarity and cooperation are the only effective weapons against state repression. 
Consider an example.

(1) To this day has not yet received bills in England and Wales.
(2) By using the banks 'clearing' kinds of litigation.
(3) Equivalent of ASSEDIC .

Collaboration between the parties

Each local authority, whether Labour, Conservative, Nationalist, or coalition vigorously 
pursuing the non-paying. Only the degree of hypocrisy apart. January 23, 90, non-paying 
twice arrested a meeting of Lothian Regional Council to try to prevent them from voting 
the budget that the Poll Tax rate for 1991.
Protesters exhibited posters, shouting numbers to to disrupt the parliamentary offices and 
rode on. Labour and the Conservatives have collaborated and made ??as if the vote had been 
taken and he was in favor of the budget. Stop the meeting would have been easier if 
influential members of the trend 'Militant' had not encouraged nearly half of the 
protesters to leave before the vote is attempted.
This is despite the fact that a meeting mass of the Federation of Anti-Poll Tax groups of 
Lothian had decided two weeks earlier to disturb the meeting of the Council to such an 
extent that no rate poll tax can not be fixed.

"Militant" seems determined to undermine any anti Poll Tax resistance, he can not control, 
especially if such resistance are attacking the Labour Party, in word and deed. Their 
usual tactic is to set up groups and then to discourage people from participating. This is 
what happened in Wavertree (Liverpool), Niddrie, Craigmillar (Edinburgh), Gresham 
Southfield (Teeside) and Notingham-East.
they are not faring much but always send delegates to meetings of cities and be elected as 
leaders. Experience shows that none of the parliamentary parties do actually supports the 
anti-Poll Tax (despite some members' actual contributions, as an individual), the active 
participation and democratic anti Poll Tax movement of many non- fee should be encouraged 
refusing any campaign to abolish the law will have no support from the public, and will 
fail as individuals react in isolation, they may be overwritten by the system. But 
1'action mass and solidarity can overcome. Streets, neighborhoods realize their collective 
strength, and this movement is far from over.

IV. THE RIOTS OF TRAFALGAR SQUARE

Before the implementation of the Poll Tax in England and Wales took place in London, a 
protest. This has turned into a riot. The media, the press have widely reported, but the 
events of coated lies. The question of how the riot was triggered is important because it 
seems short and spectacular acts sometimes mark the public that the daily struggle 
overlooked, but so much more important. We tried to track as closely as possible the day 
on 31 March, following testimonials from people who have participated in or witnessed.
Here is the flow: a parade of peaceful protest against the Poll Tax started Kennington 
Park and Whitehall back in Trafalgar Square, in the afternoon of March 31.

3:00 p.m.

A peaceful sit-in of 200 people held at the entrance to Downing Street where the office of 
Margaret Thatcher, two hours after the event is initiated. Most of the protesters have 
continued to move on the side of those who did the sit-in until the police in riot gear 
charging strikes without warning and protesters.

3:15 p.m.

Access to Whitehall is blocked by a police cordon and marched to Trafalgar Square is 
diverted by the Embankment and Northumberland Avenue (see map). At this time the calm 
still reigns in Trafalgar Square, then filled with a festive atmosphere. According to the 
testimony of comrades present on site, people danced, and there was music.

3:45 p.m. Police loop, Whitehall and support protesters trapped with the Mounties. The 
demonstrators then trapped, escape through the side streets to join the procession 
deviated on the Embankment and Northumberland Avenue.

4:00 p.m.

The police try to force the protesters to enter Trafalgar Square at the end of 
Northumberland Avenue. However Trafalgar Square is packed with people. The event was 
attended by tens of thousands, if not hundreds. Police issued a total of 30 000 people. 
More honest testimonies speak of more than 200,000 people. It follows, then a huge rush, 
which grows each other. The stampede was so intense that the crowd began to shout 
"Hillsborough" to the police (in reference to similar stampedes caused the Hillsborough 
stadium by hooligans, who had several deaths).

4:20 p.m.

While the rally ends, angry protesters focus on police around Northumberland Avenue and 
try to release protesters, many of whom suffer from injuries caused by the stampede. Five 
minutes later, protesters climb a scaffolding that was in the corner to throw projectiles 
at police below. The police cordon breaks and load back down Northumberland Avenue. Police 
vans are then launched into the crowd, framed by a dozen officers in riot gear. The mob 
forced them to retreat.

The evidence on this is overwhelming. Many people were frightened by the pleasure that 
seemed to take the police to charge the foule.Une woman who worked in a wine bar on the 
Place Saint Martin says she saw through the window three police cars in the unable to move 
because of the density of the crowd. One driver then accelerated abruptly swerving in and 
made hitting people.

4:35 p.m.

The crowd initially peaceful but angry now, having released the demonstrators ambushed in 
Northumberland Avenue, is now working towards Whitehall guarded by a police cordon. 
Because during this time, the mounted police charged the protesters pushed both sides of 
Whithall.
horses trampled either everyone, children and elderly. It is not surprising that people 
have begun to take bottles and throw them away. Pressures are increasing and shoving, the 
police usually back, the riot police advance, clubbing either to the edge of Trafalgar 
Square. And how! Police use their batons like swords on the demonstrators.

4:45 p.m.

Police vans darken in the crowd on the Strand, a protester is broke and dragged fifty 
meters. The crowd increasingly angry attack vans.

4:50 p.m.

Mounties charge now open Trafalgar Square where thousands of people gathered. Horses 
through the springing up of Whitehall to St. Martin'lane in clubbing and trampling people. 
We saw the horses in charge up the steps of St Martin in the field ', where children had 
fled to stay away from danger.
17hOO From this is the fight in Trafalgar Square while police baton protesters who respond 
by attacking police vehicles. A fire broke out on the scaffolding.

5:30 p.m.

The police are pushing the protesters north of Trafalgar Square with loads ferocious 
onslaught and disperse into the streets and neighborhoods. The Square is emptied. The 
crowd humiliated excited spontaneously attacks the rich properties. Banks, mortgage 
companies, travel agencies, department stores, jewelry stores were ransacked, their 
windows broken. The cars of the rich (and yuppies ) are returned or burned.
A few exceptions, places that provide broader service were left intact. It was an attack 
of ostentatious wealth, in response to police violence. A spontaneous resentment of the poor.
Following the riots of 31 March, 341 people were arrested. A support group of rioters Poll 
Tax (Poll Tax Rioters Support Group) was created.

It is necessary to help them. You can send your support both financial potential at the 
following address: checks payable to PTRSG) PTRSG, 84b Whitechapel High Street, London E1.
(1) This group consists of members of various groups and has purpose and solidarity with 
the victims of the riots police. They collect money for those fines would go to trial or 
be imprisoned.

V. CRIMINALIZATION BY THE MEDIA

France, Great Britain, as elsewhere, when the people expresses its revolt, when injustice 
reached levels that encourage people to use violence, the government's response, helped 
largely by the media, is attempting to criminalize the movement . Their tactic is 
essentially to reduce the uprising to an overflow of vandalism and to suggest that the 
riots were initiated and organized by "provocateurs" as the expression goes. As if the 
people could not decide for himself, and had need to be guided. As if people were not able 
to take initiatives.
reading the majority of newspapers and listening to the sound information leave again the 
same thing: "a handful of thugs came to fight. "" The Times "goes even further by 
attempting to show that the riots of March 31 had been premeditated by anarchists. By 
comparing how the manifestation of juvenile February 85 had turned to riot with that of 
Saturday, March 31, they arrived at this conclusion. "The Times" would even believe it was 
a conspiracy organized anarchist publications citing the stance and intransigent rightly, 
against the Poll Tax.

It is also a question of a manual (1) would have produced a virtually unknown anarchist 
group (2) revealing tactical maneuvers to deal with police during the riots. We doubt that 
all the people present at Trafalgar Square have read this manual. Even if the number of 
anarchists were 3 000 to 4 000 (3) (according to official figures) it is not sufficient to 
trigger a riot of tens of thousands of people.
Finally, anarchists do not hide their positions and this is not new they say that violence 
is a necessary step in the empowerment of the poor. Because there is no question of asking 
the rich to gently apply social justice and expropriation will not occur without violence. 
In addition, it is not blameworthy people organize themselves, even use tactics against 
riot police violence, only expression of the established order.

Media work in the crosshairs of the government's intention was therefore to conceal the 
fact that these riots were spontaneous and from a sense of general frustration of the 
poor. Because the looting carried out in the districts north of Trafalgar Square were of a 
character of class struggle. It was targeted, responsible, expression of ras-General and 
the bowl in response to the brutal repression of the police and not looting.
was clearly seen in the testimonies and the unfolding of events, riots was triggered by 
the sudden appearance of police riot and mounted police. You should know that Britain, 
mounted police unpopular with past experiences of repression of demonstrations, and the 
mere sight of horses and angered the jet, almost systematic, projectiles against them. The 
start of the crackdown, the very idea that she would accomplish was the straw that broke 
the camel's back for the people, who for years suffered the humiliation of the 
Conservative government 'crushes socially, and this time did not want to let it go again. 
As suggested by one of the organizers of the march: "The police fired a situation brewing. 
Officers have made ??no attempt to disperse the crowd peacefully. They are simply from 
loading." Even a member of the Conservative Party, Paul NICHOLAS, testifies, "I was going 
up St. Martin's lane when the police charged on horseback a group of people who did 
nothing. It looked like a tactic to evacuate the area, but no has that provoke people. It 
was absurd. "

An amalgam doubtful

It was also quite telling that the media focus their attention on the riots in Manchester, 
which broke out just after the riots in London this unconsciously in order to establish a 
cause and effect relationship between anti-Poll Tax riots and the mutiny of prisoners of 
Strangeways.
Knowing full well that it would in the eyes of public opinion, a villainous character 
easier (especially, once again, it only showed the damage perpetrated, and that no one 
spoke virtually no claims of prisoners. Such claims are in our opinion quite legitimate 
and deserve a presentation (4), but what interests us for the moment, is to expose the 
attempted criminalization and marginalization the anti-Poll Tax).

This would clearly show that the riots had led to the incentive for pillage and looting in 
all its forms. However, we know that there is no connection between the two events, if not 
it is true that the anti-Poll Tax Riots were a spark. It is not blameworthy, however, that 
two revolts are triggered simultaneously. It would be desirable that there are many other 
because they are scattered rebellions that, coordinates, leading to the revolution. In 
addition, the situation in the prisons (English as French), is such that it would one day 
burst and burst again.
's allegations "Times" and other newspapers (daily spend on "popular" genre Sun reaching 
to just the level of "France-Dimanche") caused the opposite effect to the one they were 
looking for. Include "Freedom" libertarian newspaper: "The person who introduced the term" 
anarchist "in the public debate that followed the riots in Trafalgar Square is the 
spokesman for the Police: David Meynell. During a press conference, he denounced the 
anarchists and the elements of the ultra-left while refusing to name names of 
organizations. For him (owner admire the passing of this fine detective!), People wore 
black flags in protest "which usually indicates the presence of anarchists (...)
From Monday, April 2 at 8:30 am, the media began to call the writing "Freedom". A dozen 
journalists visited our bookstore incognito bought some magazines ... Channel 4 TV came to 
interview us but did not broadcast the film, no doubt disappointed that we told them that 
everyone already knew the riot was not organized by anyone .. . ".

(1) 'Written in flaines, manual 32 pages
(2) 'Autognome' Brixton.
(3) journalists being rendered ridiculous by daring to even speak a handful of anarchist 
provocateurs 3000-4000. This is the heavy handle, but it is still flattering about the 
magnitude of the anarchist movement, although their involvement in the anti-Poll Tax is 
the most notable.
(4) Brochure "solitary confinement" broadcast by CAIC (Committee for the Abolition of 
solitary confinement) available against 10F + postage to the following address: 29 rue 
Stephenson, Paris 75018.

VI. STRATEGY Tories

a) The economic and social effects of the Poll Tax

One may wonder what causes the Thatcher government to take such risks for a tax should 
ultimately represent only 20% of local resources (the rest from the government and 
business). This is to misunderstand the strategy of ultra-liberal power.
course, there is the classic goal: taking money from the poor to give to the rich. But 
there are many other ways, easier to implement and much less politically dangerous to do so.
Indeed, the Poll Tax for the Conservatives is the finale of a strategy implemented for 
years and is to destroy the political and financial power of local communities. That is 
all that their eyes may represent a risk to the base.
successively They are eager to demolish all the structures of public services, social 
assistance, housing loans, municipal law to redeem the empty homes and rent cheaper than 
in the private sector. They abolished the Greater London Council because its policy was 
not theirs. In the name of "free competition" and privatization, they are taken to 
hospitals, nursing homes, schools, municipal. Their ideal vision of municipal management 
is one of a handful of technocrats and managers distributing their best interests reduced 
services outsourced to private contractors.

In summary, the whole policy is to pay for the services and assistance to the poor ... 
these poor. Practically, working families are faced with an impossible choice: either they 
will vote for municipalities that want to keep using and utilities and then they will be 
subject to a massive poll tax they can not afford or they vote for the party they propose 
the Poll Tax lowest as possible and then receive almost no more welfare. In addition, you 
should know that the Conservatives withdrew municipalities the power to levy tax on local 
businesses.
The traditional way for municipalities to "left" (Labour) to balance their budget was to 
pay a little more business and industry before increasing loads of the most disadvantaged. 
Now, the Conservatives set up a national tax rate very favorable to companies that force 
the poorest municipalities to cut social spending. As a concrete example among thousands 
of others: The City of Manchester Labour has proposed two options:
1) An annual poll tax of ? 708 per person (more or less 8000 Fr)
2) Poll Tax of approximately ? 400 accompanied by a reduction in municipal spending 95 
million pounds.

Knowing the dramatic situation, both in terms of employment and housing, which reigns in 
the Manchester area, we understand immediately that a very large part of the "savings" of 
95 million pounds would be made on backs of the poor.

b) The political consequences

Politically, the government has trapped Labour. Thus, a recent study shows that of 402 
"suggestions" government, 380 municipalities have decided to greatly exceed the amount of 
the Poll Tax proposed. Course, these municipalities are overwhelmingly Labour. Thus forms 
a good part of 1'opinion the equation: = Poll Tax Labor municipality more expensive.
however, it is not our intention to shed tears over the Labour Party. The "Labour" (Labour 
Party) even when faced with a situation that threatens his local authority chose long his 
camp, that "respect for law and order", ie bourgeois legality.

VII. STRATEGIES AND INTERVENTIONS OF LABOUR LEFT AND EXTREME LEFT
or mislead how a mass movement

a) The Labour Party (LABOUR)

1'affaire in the Poll Tax, as the miners' strikes, workers etc. .. Book, you can trust the 
"socialist" Labour Party and the trade union bureaucracies they control the MC to 
represent the best interests of the ruling class and therefore oppose initiatives based 
workers. Labour MP for the opposition, the anti-Poll Tax can be summed up in one slogan: 
"pay first and then vote (for us!)" .
Indeed, Labour, by its place and its interests in the British system, can not be resolved 
to support forms of civil disobedience that directly oppose the state. Daring to present 
himself as the "anti-Party Poll Tax" means any strategy is to ask workers to kindly wait 
until the next general elections (in 1991, except early resignation of the current 
government.)
Until that time, Labour, a prisoner of his statist logic, strongly condemns the campaign 
of boycott, thus refusing to pay the poll tax and does not hesitate to exclude from its 
ranks those who show too radical.

From the beginning of massive resistance in Scotland, Labour leaders announced the color: 
"As a socialist, I do not have time to deal with those who refuse to pay the tax" . (Eric 
MdEgan, Head of Finance Department of Labor Board of the Lothian region of Scotland in 
April 1989).
The same, December 89: "There is such a movement of refusal to pay in our area that we 
could lose large sums still owed ??money we explained that Labour were "trapped" by the 
Conservative strategy. Their semi-failures in recent municipal elections - which, however, 
did relatively little importance in Britain can be explained by that municipalities apply 
a Poll Tax Labor generally higher than "offered" the Conservatives.
Whom do we want to believe, under these conditions, once the Labour Party came to power, 
the Poll Tax or same tax under another name disappear?
We remember, in France, promises the PS before 1981 and know what Social Democracy is 
capable. Loyal Capital co-managers in the UK, the Labour Party feel more wrong to fool 
their traditional electorate. Which does not mean they will not succeed again.

b) The extreme left

What is called in Britain the "Left" (in fact all that is left of Labour) is essentially 
Leninist Trotskyist and obedience. Roughly speaking, the analysis of these groups is to 
say, "we need to change Labour Party leaders to overcome" or so. "We must rebuild the 
Labour Party and revolutionary anti-capitalist."
This "left" refuses to admit that the devices of the Party and the trade unions seek to 
break the movement (which is nevertheless obvious) but believes "they make not enough. " 
Objectively and in line leftist, she supported all attempts to sabotage the anti-Poll Tax.
example, when Scottish trade union bureaucrats (STUC) launched the slogan ridiculous "11 
minute break for tea against the Poll Tax ", they were cheered by the" left "who believed 
that" it was not long enough. "Socialist Workers Party The Party (SWP), training calling 
themselves Marxist revolutionary 1'autogestion (in fact one of the main trends 
Trotskyists), has campaigned for 1'?poque that bureaucrats do a little more (12 minutes, 
13 minutes?). And welcome "fighting spirit" the STUC!

These people have always sought to justify, explain Labour's refusal to support the fight 
expressing their surprise Kinnock (Labour Party leader) refuse to oppose the Poll Tax. 
They have always sought to underestimate denigrate the autonomous actions of the working 
class. And of course, to remove the initiative from the hands of the basis for the return 
to the same political forces that want to avoid real confrontation.
since the beginning, the line of the SWP was opportunism. At first, they just like the 
Labour Party rejected the structures of districts against the poll tax, whereas "only" the 
organization of the workplace could be "effective" (understood in the workplace where SWP 
is present!). This strategy aims to exclude from the fight unemployed, housewives etc ... 
For them, any action mobilizing the working class beyond the factory was an action of 
division. Believing that the mass refusal "to pay the tax" was adventurous and impossible 
Scottish SWP activists announced, at the end of the summer of 1989, the failure of the 
struggle against the poll tax. Then faced with the reality The leadership has initiated a 
turn 180 degrees "" Actions Division "become a battle that we must lead because there are 
no barriers between struggles in the workplace and places of housing. "What will be next 
month, the SWP strategy?

If the SWP follows somehow the line to rebuild the Labour Party rivals ACTIVIST (compared 
to the AJS-MPPT France) practice, themselves, in the frenzied infiltration. Labour, 
believing that in Party leaders changing everything will be for the best in the best of 
worlds and wanting the leftist party, they managed to infiltrate locally in some 
municipalities Labour.
Attacked by the Party apparatus that seeks to rid them, people will use the Militant case 
of the poll tax to rebuild a militant base. They will therefore invest in anti-Poll Tax 
groups and successfully implement a national coordination: the "All British Anti Poll Tax 
Federation" (Anti Poll Tax Federation in all regions of Great Britain).
This federation has course is twofold: to try to take control of grassroots groups and 
recruit for the Labour Party (likely "Militant"). Their whole strategy is to use the fight 
against the Poll Tax to regain power within the Labour Party. The relative success of 
their business also causes a reaction of the Labour leadership. Worried rise to new 
sections of the Party, Kinnock did not hesitate to "suspend". This measure aims sections 
created from scratch by "Militant" allows our Trotskyists themselves as victims of "witch 
hunt" within the party.
We could go on the shenanigans of Militant, the SWP and other small parties or Trotskyist 
communists like this. It is good to know that in Britain, as elsewhere, Leninists seek to 
divert the struggle to meet their basic interests partidaires.

VIII. TOWARDS A POLL TAX IN FRENCH?

For 1990, the socialist planned reform of local taxation, this measure in the context of a 
complete overhaul of the tax system. In the words of our social democrats, we must 
"modernize the taxation of our country." B?r?govoy and Charasse to team up for the 
occasion, we concocting what they call unscrupulous: "The Poll Tax in French." This 
project, the project manager is Edmond Herv?, aims to overcome the inequalities of a tax 
retrograde found only in 1990, with the aim of financing the expenditures of local 
municipalities, departments, regions. Sitting on the rental value of occupied dwellings, 
the tax loses its meaning in 1990, the basis for calculating current being
unrepresentative of the rental value of housing. Edmond Herv? therefore proposed to 
replace the part of the county housing tax, a tax on income.
What the Finance Minister replied that a review of the basis for calculating the rental 
value would be enough. But let there be no mistake, once again the government's social 
ambitions take on the appearance of a vast fraud. In a society that distributes income 
unequal taxation can not establish equality without questioning the foundations of the 
social order.

For what is it exactly?
It is indeed five million taxpayers previously exempt who should pay the tax in 1991, 
while four million have high markups. Overall thirteen million of taxpayers receive a 
reduction, some might see their taxes fall by 10%

Who are these new subject?
These are young people working but staying with their parents, as well as retirees 
receiving a pension, staying with their children. It is in fact 2.7 million people who are 
concerned which must be added those which were previously exempt from relief.
Altogether 85% of the new subject would have an income of less than 75,000 per year Fr. 
Our two friends have tabled a dossier to the Assembly, summarizing the work of their 
services. There have added the famous "simulations", "indicator" to predict what would be 
the reactions. population during the implementation of the bill.
Curiously when it was in the minds of the drafters to involve a contribution to each of 
"principle" and that in a democratic spirit, early indicators demonstrate here as the 
Channel, nobody seems to want to hear about such a move. I bet that in view of the recent 
events that took place in Britain, our "national Thatchers" take lesson.

IX. TO LEARN MORE ...

To achieve this paper, we consulted a number of publications.

Press bourgeois as "The Times", the "Sunday Express" ... and also newspapers Leninist / 
Trotskyist 'Socialist Worker, "" activist, "" Socialist Organizes "," Red Action "," 
Workers Power "

But especially:

"HOLD" (published by the Anarchist-Communist Federation-) c / o 84b Whitechapel High 
Street London El 7QX and resources here internets

"FREEDOM" (libertarian newspaper) 84b Whitechapel High Street London El 7QX

"DIRECT ACTION" (anarcho-syndicalist newspaper published by the DAM, British section of 
the AIT) PO Box 761 Camberwell London SE5 9JH SDO

"BLACK FLAG" (published by the Anarchist Black Cross) London WCI N BM Hurricane 3XX

"CLASS WAR" (libertarian populist newspaper Class War Federation) PO Box 499 Bristol BS 99

Finally publications from independent grassroots groups against the Poll Tax:
REFUSE AND RESIST
2/3 Ark Lane Glasgow G31 2JS

"COUNTER INFORMATION" Pigeonhole CI c / o 11 Forth Street Edinburgh

And to contact "Twinned against the Poll Tax" initiative twinning groups based Scottish, 
Welsh and English, you can write to: TWINS (english section) Box 5 Hisiki 15, Goosegate 
Nottingham

POSTSCRIPT

The subject of this brochure is a living event in unfolding and therefore incomplete. This 
is why we do not pretend to have any say about the Poll Tax. Let us forgive so if this 
document is not complete. The need to bring the information together and write this text, 
the weakness of our material resources also mean that we can not always "follow" the event 
as we would like. Nevertheless, rather than making a "good analysis "after the fact, we 
wanted to inform the anti Poll Tax" hot. "
It is in the same state of mind that we will discuss other topics in the near future.
Your comments, criticisms, requests for clarification and information are welcome.
Finally, we wish to thank our British comrades of Amarchist-Communist Federation (ACF) for 
the information they sent us on anti hair Tax.

The Libertarian Collective of Boulogne. 1990.