The cultural commentator Peter York was due to speak on "The Chavs and the Chav Nots" at the University College for the Creative Arts this week.
Mr York's lecture, which is subtitled "understanding the glamour of non-achievement", was to be presented at the institution's Epsom campus. Mr York, an honorary graduate of the college, has written bestselling books including The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook, Style Wars and Modern Times. In 1996, he presented a BBC2 series titled Peter York's Eighties.