sentences:  The succeeding Major government announced the abolition of the tax in spring 1991 and in 1993 replaced it with Council Tax, a banded property tax similar in many respects to the older system of rates.Former Trade and Industry Secretary Nicholas Ridley agreed that Thatcher had suffered a massive defeat over the poll tax, but he argued that Major's repeal "vindicated the rioters and those who had refused to pay.Lawlessness seemed to have paid off".