Failure in British Government: The Politics of the Poll Tax - Softcover

Butler, David; Adonis, Andrew; Travers, Tony

9780198278764: Failure in British Government: The Politics of the Poll Tax

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0198278764 ISBN 13: 9780198278764

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1995

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 into the streets in protest. 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 authors assess the light the affair casts on the workings of British government, and draw conclusions that are just as compelling as the events they describe. Looking at each of the main government institutions in turn, they show how the entire episode undermines the conventional wisdom about the workings of British government.

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About the Author:

David Butler is Emeritus Fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford. Andrew Ddonis is Industry Correspondent for the Financial Times. Tony Travers is Director of Research, Greater London Group, London School of Economics.

Review:

"This is a study of the most controversial political issue in Britain since the 1956 Suez Crisis. It is also a magisterial examination of the workings of British politics and thrusts doubt upon pivotal scholarly assertions about the British political system....This is a landmark study that students of British politics should consult time and again. It is also a cautionary tale for American politicians seeking to solve major governmental budgeting problems."--The Review of Politics

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