Reviled by the public and disowned by most of its authors, the poll tax is the most celebrated disaster in post-war British politics. This book tells for the first time the full and gripping story of the policy that toppled the century's longest-serving Prime Minister and brought grandmothers into the streets in protest. Drawing on unique access to the often conflicting accounts of many of the leading players, the authors paint an extraordinary picture of the journey of the poll tax from conception to demise. The authors assess the light the affair casts on the workings of British government, and draw conclusions that are just as compelling as the events they describe. Looking at each of the main government institutions in turn, they show how the entire episode undermines the conventional wisdom about the workings of British government.