Knowledge (XXG)

Poplar Rates Rebellion

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with a majority of nearly 7,000, and would hold it for the rest of his life, including his period as Leader of the Labour Party. The term "Poplarism", always identified closely with Lansbury, became a political term associated with large-scale municipal relief for the poor and needy, and also came to
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In 1921, faced with the prospect of a further large increase in the rates, Poplar Borough Council decided to hold them down by not collecting the precepts which it should have passed on to the four cross-London authorities. The London County Council and Metropolitan Asylums Board responded by taking
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between 8 November and 10 November 1921. It more or less equalised tax burdens between rich and poor boroughs. The new Act also introduced a power, in clause 2, permitting a precepting authority to apply to the courts for the appointment of a receiver to take the funds directly from a council that
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The revolt received wide public support. Lansbury addressed crowds that regularly gathered outside, through the prison bars. Neighbouring councils threatened to take similar action. Trade unions passed resolutions of support and collected funds for the councillors' families. Eventually, after six
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Because Poplar was a poor borough, property rents were low. With liability for local taxation assessed on the basis of a 'rateable value' deriving from rents, Poplar Borough Council had to set a much higher rate in order to produce the same amount as produced by low rates in a wealthy borough. In
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The mural commemorates the Poplar Rates Rebellion over four panels, including an image of George Lansbury wearing his mayoral chain of office; placards reading "Can't Pay Won't Pay"', and a list of the names of the imprisoned councillors. The fourth panel draws a parallel with the contemporary
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In 1925, the district auditor surcharged the councillors for Poplar Borough Council's policies of more generous pay for council workers, and equal pay for women workers. The surcharge was challenged by judicial review in the courts and, eventually, in
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There was a small fund which attempted to correct for the different rate products but Poplar called for complete equalisation of the rates so that the same rate brought in the same income both to Poplar and to a wealthier West London borough.
63:, Poplar was one of the poorest boroughs; and there was no government support to alleviate the high unemployment, hunger, and poverty in the borough, and the work of Poplar Poor Law Union had to be funded by the borough itself under the 315:, the responsibility for the provision of outdoor relief transferred from the Poplar Poor Law Union to the London County Council, and thereby the financial burden was spread across the entire County of London. 51:
Council, most of whom were industrial workers. The protest defied government, the courts, and the Labour Party leadership. George Lansbury would later go on to be the leader of the Labour Party.
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Despite the equalisation of rates, the dispute regarding the monies paid for outdoor relief would continue for some years until the abolition of the
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be applied generally to campaigns where local government stood against central government on behalf of the poor and least privileged of society.
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Poplar Borough Council's Labour administration elected in 1919 undertook a comprehensive programme of social reform and poor relief, including
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and a minimum wage for council workers, far in excess of the market rate. This programme was expensive and had to be funded from the
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weeks' imprisonment, the court ordered the councillors released, which occasioned great celebrations in Poplar.
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the matter to the High Court. The council's response was to organise a procession of 2,000 supporters from
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and prepare a pamphlet on taxation. Another of the jailed women was Lansbury's own daughter-in-law
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painted a mural on the wall of the Tower Hamlets Parks Department depot on Hale Street, E14.
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the House of Lords ruled that the increased pay was unlawful, and upheld the surcharge.
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for Poplar Poor Law Union, Poplar ratepayers were also charged precepts to pay for the
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The mural was restored in 2007 by David Bratby and Maureen Delenian.
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Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online edition
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Thirty councillors, including six women, one of whom,
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Index

tax protest
Poplar, London
England
George Lansbury
Labour
Poplar Borough
London
poor law
equal pay for women
rates
precept
London County Council
Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan Asylums Board
Metropolitan Water Board
Bow
mace-bearer
Nellie Cressall
contempt of court
court order
Brixton Prison
Holloway
Susan Lawrence
Tolstoy
Minnie Lansbury
David Morgan Adams
Nellie Cressall
Edgar Lansbury
Minnie Lansbury
George Lansbury

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