Poll Tax Riots

Margaret Thatcher was the British Prime Minister and a member of the Conservative party. When the Poll Tax rose there were demonstrations around Britain. On "Saturday, 31st March 1990" it was the largest demonstration which had occurred in London. There were "between 180,000 and 250,000" people who had arrived to protest against the rise in the Poll Tax.

 Portrayed above is an image which states "I exist on £47 a week. How can I pay the Poll Tax?". This shows the hardship occurring in London at this time.

Kensington Park was the initial meeting point where everyone gathered to begin the protest and it continued all the way to Whitehall. As a result they blocked off Downing Street as Whitehall is remarkably close. The police tried to force all of the protestors to move towards Trafalgar Square.

Margaret Thatcher "resigned as Prime Minister in November the same year". Once Thatcher had been denounced, the Poll Tax was eliminated by John Major who took over her role as Prime Minister. 

Depicted above is an image from the Anti-Poll Tax Campaign. The image portrays Margaret Thatcher being handcuffed to a table and being smuggled by a cloth around her mouth. This image depicts the hatred and fury happening throughout London in the 1990's.