This might be a one-off, jumping on here, as an Evertonian: I wrote the Observer piece. Nice of some of you to notice; and judge it as you will, but a few points.
Walton, as I make clear right from the start, refers to the constituency – so walton, anfield, everton, fazakerley etc etc. So no confusion with the pic taken in Anfield.
'Not the worst place in the world' Never said it was. The idea for the piece was a simple one. Over the next few months, there's going to be lots of chat about 'broken Britain': whether it exists, what it means etc. Walton features heavily in deprivation lists, sadly; I wish it didn't. So by many measures, it is one of the worst places.
Not *my* measures. Doesn't mean you/I have to agree with them, but equally it makes sense to ask if things can be/should be better for the people who live there –*including my family –*doesn't it?
To offer a comparison, I could write that it's a huge pleasure watching Everton at the moment, could wax lyrical about the flowing passing movements. But for all the words, it wouldn't be true; the reality wouldn't change - I'd still be watching something that's nowhere near good enough. So I could write that life is a breeze in Walton; not sure who it would benefit, though...
'Snooty? Looking down on people...' Again, your call. But I don't see the evidence. I was just calling it as I see it. I tend to think it's a good thing if smart, working class kids get to see other lives. My view. And as I grew up there, went to school there, lots of family in the area, I should stand a good chance of doing a decent portrait of Walton. If I've failed, my fault.
'Tories pushing hard in Walton'.. Er, I don't want to teach you how to read, Mr Walton Red, but you might not have got my tone (or is that me being snooty again?). Pretty clear in my banter with Kilfoyle ('hesistant steps' etc) that, for better or worse, Kilfoyle has nothing to fear. He's as safe as houses. And of course nobody's heard of the Cushion Man.
Anyway, I've learned a few things. There are some rednoses in Walton. Some real, live Liverpudlians in L4. Who knew?
Just a joke.
Your Evertonian servant.
