Rate-capping rebellion poster

Scope and Content

Mock 'wanted' poster of District Auditor Brian Skinner, produced by Lambeth Joint Trades Unions Committee, relating to the rate-capping rebellion of 1985. The rate-capping rebellion was a campaign within English local councils in 1985 which aimed to force the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher to withdraw powers to restrict the spending of councils. Lambeth had been in the forefront of the campaign. The district auditor, Brian Skinner, found that his permission to use offices in Lambeth town hall allocated to NALGO was withdrawn, and his photograph featured on a threatening mock 'wanted' poster in his local supermarket. Skinner's employers, the Audit Commission, sought police assistance in tracking down and destroying copies of the poster.