Maybe I am a chav!

According to a new book on the subject it is a term of abuse used by the wealthy and privileged who openly laugh at the working class and crack jokes such as ‘where will the chavs get their Christmas presents now that Woolworths has closed?’.

The author of the book is critical of how working class people have been side-lined from positions of power over the years and how the plight of the poor is not taken seriously.

Comparisons are made about the search for Shannon Matthews and the demonisation of the Dewsbury Moor community in contrast to that of nice, middle-class Madeline McCann. It was a point made by several journalists at the time. In the early stages of the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper I remember some expressions of concern that the murders were not being taken seriously because the victims were ‘only prostitutes’.

For the first time in years I called at the bookies on Saturday to place a bet on The Derby.

I had a fiver on ‘Poor Moi’. I didn’t know what pleased me more, my horse winning or the disappointment on the faces of The Royal Family as the Queen’s horse finished third.

Maybe I’m a chav!

J APPLEYARD

Firthcliffe Parade

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