Margaret Thatcher’s poll tax caused mass anger against the Tory Government as soon as it was introduced. The tax disregarded income and meant, “a Duke would pay the same as a dustman”. People pledged not to pay, campaign groups defended non-payers in courts and against bailiffs, and there were many protests across the country.

On 8 March around 5,000 protesters gathered outside Hackney Town Hall. The council had angered local people. It had expelled three councillors who had voted against spending on a local poll tax collection centre and did not allow delegations of protesters into its meeting. An eyewitness reported at the time; “the council turned the town hall into a bunker. It boarded up windows ... It brought in security guards with dogs to patrol the town hall! The workers there were so disgusted that 80 of them walked out on strike.”

The peaceful demonstration became angry as police snatched people from the crowd. When a section of the demonstrators surged to the side of the town hall thinking they could go into the meeting, police charged the crowd, lashing out with truncheons at everyone, including pensioners and children. People were pushed back on to Mare Street and as far as the Narrow Way. People fought back and windows were broken. Police horses were used to disperse the protesters after several hours of disturbances.

Such local protests were followed by the “Battle of Trafalgar Square”, when 200,000 marched and fought back against riot police. The downfall of Thatcher has been directly attributed to these popular protests. She resigned eight months later and the poll tax was scrapped.