MARGGIE'S THATCHERISM COMMUNITY CHARGES COUNCIL POLL TAXES SOCIAL HOUSING SELL OFF TORIES CONSERVATIVE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER'S WHO'S POLICIES STINK OF FINANCIAL SLAVERY AND SOCIAL INEQUALITY HUMN RIGHTS ABUSES PANDERING TO RICH FINANCIERS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE POOR

Margaret Thatcher was one of the most unpopular British Prime Ministers, who it appears, thought of the poorer members of society as chattels. Disposable people like slaves, who should be milked without mercy to prop up Conservative policies that were then, and are now sinking the economy. To wit the burgeoning National Debt.

Margaret Thatcher realised that her economic policies were shot to bits with loopholes engineered in to allow her rich backers to become richer, at the expense of the poor, becoming poorer. The lack of foresight or understanding of the level of corruption in the UK, especially in councils, has seen a number of reported bankruptcies, that is set to rise in 2024. With a top heavy rostrum of Council employees, Civil Servants and Police pensions all hungry for taxpayers money, the nation is set of a bumpy ride, with a pensions bill it cannot possibly afford.

However, and despite being put on notice as to this, Rishi Sunack is not doing anything to thin the number of white-collar workers, down to realistic proportions. Leaving him or the next succession of governments to squeeze the blue-collar workers and others who work manually, to death - with yet more unfair taxes to plug the black hole.

THE COMMUNITY CHARGE

The Poll Taxes, officially called the Community Charge, were a system of taxation introduced by Thatcher’s government in 1989 in Scotland and in 1990 in England and Wales. They replaced the previous system of domestic rates, which were based on the value of a property, with a flat-rate per capita tax on every adult, regardless of income or ability to pay [1][2].

The Poll Taxes were widely seen as unfair, because they shifted the tax burden from the rich to the poor, and from urban areas to rural areas. For example, a wealthy family living in a large house would pay the same amount as a poor family living in a small flat, and a city dweller would pay more than a country dweller for the same services [1][3]. The Poll Taxes also increased the overall tax burden for many people, especially in areas with high unemployment or low wages [2].

The Poll Taxes provoked widespread opposition and resistance, both from the public and from within the Conservative Party. Many people refused to register or pay the tax, and joined anti-poll tax unions and campaigns. Some local authorities also opposed the tax and tried to mitigate its effects [1][2]. The Poll Taxes led to a series of protests and marches across the UK, some of which turned violent. The largest and most notorious protest was the Poll Tax Riot in London on 31 March 1990, which involved up to 200,000 demonstrators and resulted in clashes with the police, injuries, arrests, and damage to property [3][2].

The Poll Tax Riots and the subsequent public outcry had a major impact on Thatcher’s political standing and popularity. They exposed the deep divisions and discontent within her party and the country, and eroded her authority and credibility. They also contributed to her downfall, as she faced a challenge to her leadership from her rival Michael Heseltine, who opposed the Poll Taxes. In November 1990, she failed to receive a majority in the Conservative Party’s annual vote for selection of a leader. She withdrew her nomination, and John Major, the chancellor of the Exchequer since 1989, was chosen as Conservative leader. On November 22, she announced her resignation and six days later was succeeded by Major [4][5][6].

THE RIGHT TO BUY SCHEME

Another of Maggie's genius schemes, was to give council's more legroom for their corrupt planning committee's, that was to profit the land owners and landlord's enormously. In the process, making millions homeless. Any prime minister with even a grain of common sense, would have known that the level of corruption in local authorities, would doom millions of families to a lifetime of renting. The exact opposite of her sermons, that were disingenuous to say the least. Or maybe even, like Boris Johnson's diatribes, downright lies.

Margaret Thatcher’s policy of selling off council housing, also known as the Right to Buy scheme, was introduced in the Housing Act 1980. It gave secure tenants of councils and some housing associations the legal right to buy their homes at a large discount, ranging from 33% to 50% of the market value [1]. The policy was motivated by Thatcher’s belief in the virtues of home ownership, individual freedom, and the free market. She wanted to create a “property-owning democracy” and reduce the role of the state in providing social housing [2].

The policy was very popular among council tenants, who saw it as an opportunity to own their own homes and benefit from rising house prices. Between 1980 and 1997, over 1.7 million council homes were sold under the scheme [1]. However, the policy also had negative consequences for the supply and quality of social housing. The main reasons were:

The policy did not require councils to replace the sold homes with new ones. In fact, councils were prevented from using the proceeds of the sales to build new council housing, and instead had to pay off their housing debts and transfer the remaining funds to the central government [3]. This resulted in a chronic under-supply of new social homes, especially in areas where property prices were high, such as London and the south-east of England. In 1982, 200,000 council houses were sold to their tenants, but only 15,000 new ones were built [4].

The policy reduced the quality and diversity of the remaining council housing stock, as the most desirable and well-maintained homes were sold off, leaving behind the less attractive and more problematic ones. This created a stigma and a spiral of decline for council housing, as it became associated with poverty, unemployment, crime, and social exclusion [5]. The policy also reduced the choice and mobility of council tenants, as they had fewer options to move to different areas or types of accommodation [6].

The policy contributed to the rise of private landlords and the growth of the private rented sector, as many former council homes were sold or rented out by their owners to private tenants, often at higher rents and with less security. Some of the buyers were speculators or investors, who bought multiple properties and left them empty or under-occupied, or drove up prices for local buyers. Some of the sellers were council tenants who could not afford to keep up with their mortgage payments or maintenance costs, and had to return to the social housing sector or become homeless [7][8].

The policy also had wider social and economic impacts, such as increasing inequality, segregation, and gentrification, as well as affecting the health, education, and wellbeing of council tenants and their communities.

The policy was modified and restricted by subsequent governments, and was abolished in Scotland in 2016 and in Wales in 2019. However, it is still in force in England, and was extended to housing association tenants in 2016 by David Cameron’s government, despite opposition from housing campaigners and experts. The policy remains controversial and divisive, as it is seen by some as a success story of empowering council tenants and creating wealth, and by others as a failure that caused a housing crisis and social injustice.

Theresa May - Prime Mnister

MP for Maindenhead

Damian Green

MP for Ashford

Philip Hammond

MP Runnymede & Weybridge

Boris Johnson

MP Uxbridge & South Ruislip

Amber Rudd

MP Hastings & Rye

David Davis

MP Haltemprice & Howden

Gavin Williamson

MP South Staffordshire

Liam Fox

MP North Somerset

David Lidlington

MP for Aylesbury

Baroness Evans

MP Bowes Park Haringey

Jeremy Hunt

MP South West Surrey

Justine Greening

MP for Putney

Chris Grayling

MP Epsom & Ewell

Karen Bradley

MP Staffordshire Moorlands

Michael Gove

MP Surrey Heath

David Gauke

MP South West Hertfordshire

Sajid Javid

MP for Bromsgrove

James Brokenshire

MP Old Bexley & Sidcup

Alun Cairns

MP Vale of Glamorgan

David Mundell MP

Dumfriesshire Clydes & Tweeddale

Patrick McLoughlin

MP Derbyshire Dales

Greg Clark

MP Tunbridge Wells

Penny Mordaunt

MP Portsmouth North

Andrea Leadsom

MP South Northamptonshire

Jeremy Wright

MP Kenilworth & Southam

Liz Truss

MP South West Norfolk

Brandon Lewis

MP Great Yarmouth

Nus Ghani

MP Wealden

Huw Merriman

MP Battle

Steve Double

MP St Austell & Newquay

Sarah Newton

MP Truro & Falmouth

Rebecca Pow

MP Taunton Deane

David Cameron

Former Prime Minister

According to the data from Eurostat [1] and Wikipedia [2], the UK has a relatively low home ownership rate compared to other countries, especially in Europe. The UK’s home ownership rate was 63% in 2018 [2], which was below the European Union average of 69.9% in 2021 [1]. The UK ranked 28th out of 36 countries in the list of countries by home ownership rate [2].

The UK also has a relatively high renting rate compared to other countries, especially in the private rented sector. The UK’s renting rate was 37% in 2018 [2], of which 20% was in the private rented sector and 17% was in the social rented sector [3]. The UK ranked 9th out of 36 countries in the list of countries by renting rate [2].

The UK’s home ownership and renting patterns have changed significantly over time, influenced by various economic, social, and political factors. Some of the main trends are:

- A decline in home ownership since the early 2000s, after a peak in the late 1980s and early 1990s, driven by the Right to Buy scheme, deregulation of the mortgage market, and rising house prices. The decline was more pronounced among younger and lower-income households, who faced affordability and accessibility barriers to home ownership.

- A rise in renting, especially in the private rented sector, since the late 1980s, driven by the deregulation of the rental market, the growth of buy-to-let landlords, the decline of social housing, and the increased demand for flexible and temporary accommodation. The rise was more pronounced among younger and lower-income households, who were priced out of home ownership or social housing.

- A stagnation or decline in social housing, since the late 1970s, driven by the Right to Buy scheme, the reduction of public investment, the transfer of stock to housing associations, and the tightening of eligibility criteria. The decline was more pronounced in England than in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, where social housing policies were more supportive.

These trends have implications for the housing affordability, quality, and security of the UK population, as well as for the wider economy and society. The UK faces a housing crisis that requires a comprehensive and long-term strategy to address the supply and demand of housing, as well as the regulation and support of the housing market.

THE GUARDIAN THURSDAY 11 JANUARY 2018 - Theresa May has said her government is serious about improving the environment after pressure groups gave a lukewarm response to a 25-year green plan, praising its ambition but warning that it lacked sufficient proposals for immediate action. May’s proposals were also criticised by Jeremy Corbyn, who said her pledge to stop all avoidable plastic waste by 2042 was “far too long” to take action.

The United Kingdom has many political parties, some of which are represented in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Below are links to the websites of the political parties that were represented in the House of Commons after the 2015 General Election: