THUG

[Faust]

Thug is used extensively here. It has no racial connotations in irish culture. It may have economic implications aimed at the lower classes but it's antiquated here and sounds vaguely like someones insane grampa when they use it.

Scum is definitely aimed at the lower classes, more specifically normally used in association with the traveller community or migrants.

[Cain]

Our tabloids prefer yob to thug, I think.  Mostly because it's a letter smaller.  You know, gives you more advertising spaces to play with, if your headline YOB SCUM RIOT ON UK STREETS to THUG SCUM RIOT ON ENGLISH STREETS.

[Faust]

It makes them seem hip and with it, appealing to the bigoted youth of today.