Apparently we should no longer use the word 'chav' because 'it shows middle class hatred of the white working class'.

Descriptive slang has always been part of our evolving language, and the Fabian Society, in coming to this conclusion, is merely revealing its own pretensions and prejudice.

I say stand up for old words such as 'toff' and 'country bumpkin', and welcome in new terms such as chav. They should be protected as acceptable, affectionate terms, and proof that we still have a national sense of identity - and humour.

Presumably if George Orwell were writing his book, 1984, today, he would be banned by the thick tank (sorry, think tank) from writing about the ordinary men and women (whom he actually envied for escaping the confines of Big Brother) as 'proles'.

In 1984 he wrote: "They (the proles) went to work at twelve, passed through a brief blossoming period of beauty and sexual desire, married at twenty, were middle-aged at thirty, and died, for the most part, at sixty.

Heavy physical work, the care of home and children, petty quarrels with neighbours, films, football, beer, and, above all, gambling filled up the horizon of their minds."

Are we to banish regional slang names too? What a dull world it would be without Geordies and Scousers to liven up our lovely language.

Is it now offensive to label people Cockneys, Brummies or Jocks?

When the Fisher family were holidaying in Swanage many years ago we found a pub with a notice proclaiming 'no snobs or yobs', which we decided was at least even handed in its barmy bigotry.

Maybe we all have a bit of chav in us anyway, as according to an internet quiz, we qualify if we've ever: 

*  Enjoyed a KFC family bucket, had a pay as you go mobile phone, worn gold jewellery from Argos or call our grandmother 'nan'.

* Bought a present from a petrol station, call our evening meal 'tea' or dream of souping up our cars.

* Eaten own brand baked beans, drunk Carling Black Label or pocketed freebie hotel toiletries.

Now, as I've probably ruffled the feathers of everyone reading this, I'd better confess: I qualify on some counts - I'll leave you to guess which ones. How about you?

FOOTNOTE: Chav apparently stems from Romany roots: 'chavi' means child.