Failure in British government

Butler, David, David Butler, Andrew Adonis, Tony Travers

Reviled by the public and disowned by most of its authors, the poll tax is the most celebrated disaster in post-war British politics. This book tells for the first time the full and gripping story of the policy that toppled the century's longest-serving Prime Minister and brought grandmothers onto the streets in protest. Margaret Thatcher, Nigel Lawson, Michael Heseltine, and virtually the entire cast of 1980s British politics feature as the tale unfolds. Drawing on unique access to the often conflicting accounts of many of the leading players, the authors paint an extraordinary picture of the journey of the poll tax from conception to demise. The book is much more than a fascinating account of a remarkable piece of British political history. The authors assess the light the whole affair casts on the workings of British government, and draw conclusions that are just as compelling as...

See on goodreads | librarything