Comments on: Much hated, but was the poll tax actually fair?

By: Duncan

Duncan — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:27:32 +0000

I went to university in 1989 and was hit by it first hand on what remained of my grant. The thing is, that it wasn’t that much and to this day, I argue that it was a fairer tax than that which existed before and that which we have now.

The reason there were riots is (assuming the same net amount is recouped across the country) that while any sweeping change like the poll tax will benefit half the population, it will also adversely affect half the population. People gaining from such a change, don’t usually say anything, while annoying half the population will always cause uproar.

By: Philtheone

Philtheone — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:57:03 +0000

There you go Steven, with the minimum wage the poll tax could be brought back.

By: Philtheone

Philtheone — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:55:56 +0000

So it’s fair to force a pensioner out of her large family home that has been passed down by her parents by charging her THOUSANDS per year for council tax – a tax for services she probably doesn’t even use?

By: Frustrated

Frustrated — Thu, 13 May 2010 12:23:14 +0000

Yes it was and would be now with the minimum wage. On that level of pay you were entitled to housing benefit and poll tax benefit so you shouldn’t have been paying anything at all. However those widows left living in family homes on a very much smaller income and getting nothing out of the system weren’t fleeced or forced to move at an age when it’s difficult to move on your own.

By: Steven Parry

Steven Parry — Wed, 12 May 2010 23:00:14 +0000

fair! you tell me in 1989 i left school, joined a YTS sheme, I was paid £29 per week (£1,509 per year) I recieved a bill for poll tax for £400 (3 months pay) which I paid myself and it was not easy as I had to pay rent as well. If was a good idea then lest bring back a tax that takes 3 months pay from everyone again….. do you think it as fair?

By: Philtheone

Philtheone — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:37:15 +0000

If you think its bad now, just wait until after the election!

By: joseph duff

joseph duff — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:52:00 +0000

labour the working mans spokesperson, what a joke, bunch of war mongering thieves, gordon brown and his henchmen, tony blair the smiling bastard, we pay tax out of our wages for services, why should we pay council tax as well, joining europe we will be better off they said, what a fck joke, this country sends its young men off to war to come back in coffins,looks after people like jon venables the scum of this earth, and this labour goverment robs its good people to feed others.

By: Philtheone

Philtheone — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:58:45 +0000

Just spoke to some people of my parents generation who all seem concurrent that the poll tax was around £300 per person per year in Blackpool.

In an average household with 2.4 children that would still be about the same as what they recoup now, only single people living alone wouldn’t be battered for it.

By: john

john — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:40:57 +0000

Well in all fairness it was 500 average across the country I think Blackpool was 300 and something. But the principal that it hit the young and newly employed hardest is still true.

By: Philtheone

Philtheone — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 10:38:06 +0000

That sounds awfully mismanaged and unjustified. How could they possibly even think that they could take 6 grand a year in local services tax off every person?