Tories plotted to use Scotland for Poll Tax experiment

Secret files released under the 30 year rule have confirmed that senior Tories plotted to “experiment” on Scotland by introducing the Community Charge, dubbed the 'Poll Tax' by many, there first. 

Oliver Letwin – who was then part of Margaret Thatcher’s Policy Unit – wrote a letter in which he suggested using Scotland as an “experiment”, to avoid accusations of “being rash” by proposing it for England and Wales at the same time. The letter concludes “we therefore recommend that, if you are not willing to move to a pure residence charge in England and Wales immediately, you should introduce a mixture of taxes but should rather use the Scots as a trailblazer for the real thing.”

Meanwhile his colleague David Willetts – who was part of the same Policy Unit – wrote a memo stating “Scotland and Northern Ireland have their snouts well and truly in the public expenditure trough. The challenge is to find a politically acceptable way of putting them on the same diet as the English.”

Commenting, SNP Deputy Leader Stewart Hosie MP said: “These declassified files confirm that key Tory figures plotted in secret to use Scotland as a guinea pig for the Poll Tax, so that they could avoid accusation of ‘being rash’ by trying to bring in a similar system in England and Wales. These memos reveal the arrogant and contemptuous attitude towards Scotland that is the hallmark of the Tories."

Continuing Mr Hosie said: "Key figures who were responsible for inflicting the Poll Tax on Scotland are now senior members of the Tory-led Government that has inflicted modern disasters like the Bedroom Tax on Scotland. That continued failure to look after Scotland’s interests only underline why we need to be able to make our own choices on tax and welfare in Scotland, rather than leaving such decisions in the hands of Tories at Westminster who have shown they cannot be trusted to act in the interests of people in Scotland."

The papers also show that the Treasury and senior Downing Street aides made another bid to slash Scottish funding by having the Barnett Formula suspended. They show that David Willetts, now a senior Tory MP but then one of Mrs Thatcher's aides, accused Scotland and Northern Ireland of having "their snouts in the trough of public spending". However, Mrs Thatcher personally blocked attempts to cut the Scottish budget despite her then Chief Treasury of the secretary John McGregor suggesting the Scotland Office and MoD were "the two big areas" where spending could be cut.

SNP Deputy Leader Stewart Hosie added: "These revelations prove beyond doubt that the Tory obsession with slashing Scotland's budget goes back decades. As was then and remains the case today, Scotland more than pays its way – and for each of the past 32 years we have generated more tax per head than the UK as a whole. But in the aftermath of the referendum, the Tories have been quick to renew the threat to Scotland's budget. Along with their efforts to shoehorn the issue of English votes for English laws into discussion on more powers for Scotland, their renewed enthusiasm to inflict further spending cuts on the people of Scotland is blatantly obvious."

Concluding Mr Hosie said "Mrs Thatcher may be gone, but David Willetts remains a senior Tory MP today – and the release of this information serves as a stark reminder that as long as Westminster has powers over the Scottish budget, the threat to cut it will remain. This is precisely why Scotland must have control over our own finances - and more powers to strengthen and grow the Scottish economy, and tackle inequality."

Also commenting Shadow Cabinet Office Minister, Jonathan Ashworth, said: "Oliver Letwin was a key architect of the poll tax, so enthusiastic about it he pressed Margaret Thatcher to push ahead with its introduction. Over the years he has called for further privatisation of the NHS and for public expenditure at 35 per cent of GDP. Today he is David Cameron's policy chief at the heart of his Government. It seems that the Tory Party never changes."

Labour to hold debate over the 'battle of Orgreave'

On the 30th Anniversary of the ‘Battle of Orgreave’, the Labour party has pledged to hold a debate in the House of Commons in the coming weeks as part of the ‘Justice for the Coalfields’ campaign. The Labour party say they will:

• Recognise the economic legacy of the pit closure programme in coalfield communities across the UK and call for continued regeneration and support;
• Repeat the demand for an investigation into what happened at Orgreave;
• And renew the call for the publication of all communications between the Government and the police at the time of the 1984-5 miners’ strike.

Labour say they have previously called for an apology from Conservative ministers for the "lies" by the Government of Margaret Thatcher at the time about the secret pit closure plan and for looking to deploy the Army Which was revealed by Cabinet papers released earlier this year under the 30 year rule.

Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, Michael Dugher , who is the leading the ‘Justice for the Coalfields’ campaign, commented: “What happened at Orgreave 30 years ago was a black day not just in South Yorkshire, but for coalfield communities across Britain – who saw their industry decimated after the strike. The devastating legacy of the pit closures is still being felt in coalfield areas. Serious structural, long-lasting and generational decay were created and recovering from this remains a massive challenge with more support and regeneration still needed.

Continuing Michael Dugher said: “Cabinet papers from the Thatcher government confirm how badly ministers treated the coalfield communities. We need a proper investigation into Orgreave. We need full transparency of Government communications with the police at the time of the strike. And we need to recognise the economic legacy of the pit closure programme in coalfield communities across the UK and provide support for regeneration. That’s why Labour will lead a House of Commons debate. Thirty years on from Orgreave, it’s time to get to the truth and for there to be justice for the coalfields.”

Thatcher tops best PM poll

Margaret Thatcher came top of a YouGov poll asking the question; best Prime Minister since 1945? The result showed that Lady Thatcher was four percent ahead of Sir Winston Churchill. The only other Prime Minister to get into double figures was the Labour Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair. The result is:

Margaret Thatcher 28%
Winston Churchill 24%
Tony Blair 10%
Harold Wilson 6%
Clement Atlee 5%
Gordon Brown 2%
Anthony Eden 1%
Harold MacMillan 1%
Alec Douglas-Home 1%
Jim Callaghan 1%
John Major 1%
Edward Heath 0%
David Cameron 0%

Labour Councillor in Thatcher death storm

Labour Councillor for the Westerhope Ward in Newcastle, Linda Hobson, has triggered outraged on twitter when she tweeted: "Just put news on to see Thatcher - for a brief minute I celebrated her death - until reality struck - if only." A number of tweeters supporting all parties and none reacted with anger condemning Ms Hobson's comment. As Ms Hobson has decided to delete her tweet rather than apologise a screen capture was done before hand

The offending tweet by Linda Hobson

The Conservative MP for Corby Louise Mensch said "It would be good for @Ed_Miliband to show some leadership and simply say that wishing death on anyone does not conform to Labour values and it is not acceptable from elected Lab officials. One day that great woman will in fact die. What will Labour's public face be then?".

Other tweeters have been contacting other senior Labour figures including, Harriet Harman, Ed Balls and Labour leader of Newcastle City Council Nick Forbes for comments about Ms Hobson. It is clear that Ms Hobson should be kicked out of the Labour party for this behaviour but Mr Miliband, Ms Harman and Cllr Forbes or their offices are yet to issue a comment.