23: John Major: From Brixton to Downing Street (Part 1)
The Rest Is Politics: Leading
00:00
The Poll Tax and the Conservative Party
Jack De Lauret: Margaret Thatcher was hooked on the policy and couldn't really retreat. She didn't like it as a matter of principle, he says. And because she was stuck with it, she dug her heels in and advocated it even more. The Conservative Party was overwhelmingly pro-European at that time - so Europe became a second issue. But if she had metaphorically put her arms around the party and sweet talk to them, I think they would not have voted against her. He adds: "I will have something to say about that when we get there"
Transcript
Play full episode
