‘I was the chair of Tonbridge and Malling opposed to The Poll Tax - we had a very unusual campaign”
Mark Hood

March 1990 - The Poll Tax

The Poll Tax was fiercely opposed by communities all over the United Kingdom as local people looked to make their opinions heard. Although the protests in London ended in violence, here in Tonbridge they remained peaceful as demonstrators marched to the castle lawn. Seen by many as being divisive and unfair, the short lived tax was only in place for a year, during which time it is attributed to the fall of the ‘Iron Lady’s’ government. Listen to Mark Hood, recount his memories from his time as the Chair of the Opposed to The Poll Tax as he sought to help Tonbridge residents challenge the poll tax in court and on the streets.

Pic: Gavin Sawyer
Audio: ‘Dub be good to me’, Beats International / ‘Vogue’, Madonna /
‘Don’t Pay The Poll tax’, The Exploited / ‘Panic’, The Smiths /
‘Can’t Touch This’, MC Hammer /
‘A Little Time’, The Beautiful South/ ‘World in motion’, New Order
‘Should I stay or Should I go’, The Clash