Working-class attitudes
Sir: Auberon Waugh's attack on workingclass mythology must send a . delicious frisson of daring down the spines of your poor middle-class readers demoralised by years of progressive talk about the 'salt of the earth', 'two nations' and so on. Differentials of wages have already been eroded, inflation and the capital transfer tax will do the rest, and as he points out, lorry drivers, even farm workers living in subsidised housing with their £4,000-odd a year and with a few fiddles on the side, are a great deal better off after taxation than the professional classes with their innumerable obligations.
I would add some further unpleasant truths to Auberon Waugh's thesis that should be said. Much praise is given to working-class loyalties. Unfortunately these loyalties often take on many anti-social aspects. An employee may thieve from his employer, or a neighbour may bash his wife or children, but report it to the police and the informant is accused of 'shopping' a member of his own class.
Almost no crimes of violence are committed by the middle classes; often these crimes of violence committed by the lower orders are completely meaningless in terms of what is gained. Ireland is a perfect example of this. No member of the Irish middle classes takes part in theendless round of murder, torture and intimidation. Though it is called sectarian violence it is really a form of working-class tribal warfare that has no rational basis but is clearly much relished by both sides, hence may never stop. Elwyn Evans Lone Tree Cottage, Garboldisham, Diss, Norfolk
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