at the first labour campaign press conference on 1 march, roy hattersley made an outspoken personal attack on thatcher for being "arrogant, autocratic and unscrupulous in the pursuit of power", and claimed the main issue of the campaign would be the new local government community charge or 'poll tax' which was shortly to come into effect. charles prior supported the principle of the new tax and blamed the labour controlled staffordshire county council and cannock chase district council for higher than expected tax levels in rugeley. when he launched his campaign together with his uncle, prior visited an old people's home in rugeley and was reportedly delighted to find may residents agreed with his view; his uncle attacked the labour alternative tax while expecting that the government's scheme would eventually be altered. labour also attempted to focus on the conservative proposals for the national health service, challenging prior to say whether he supported them and the rise in prescription charges.