The Guardian is Sexist!

Well said, jane10. Such a clue says more about the bloke who used it than about anyone else. He's obviously a twat. Signed thatoldbags.

How on earth would people know what 'itw' was?

Is it a common abbreviation?

The clue did not refer to an old ill-tempered woman, just itw.

Presumably a 30 year old could be called an old bag by this crossword compiler.

Okay, maybe I'm lacking a sense of humour but which of us would not feel annoyed if, say, someone said 'shut up you old bag' in response to a complaint or criticism?

Sense of humour alert? If they`re going to post us as old bags lets really go for! Might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb. I plan to be a really awkward old cow today. Will probably get away with it too. Advanced age has its benefits

I have to agree with Soutra. I am more offended by the paucity of the clue than the possible sexism

The crossword compiler is the usual bloke. There were objections in the comments section beneath the online version of the crossword.

Yes. Pity we didn't have Gransnet at that time. We would have given them hell!

That was as good a reason to boycott Sainsbury's as any! Bl***y cheek!

Obviously used the office junior to compile the crossword that day.

Reminds me of the Sainsburys "Take an old bag shopping" campaign.

The answer to "ill tempered woman" is surely " harridan". If they wanted a clue for "old bag" they might have tried "used carrier"?

It's not even accurate - if someone's rude enough to refer to a woman as an 'old bag' it's not necessarily because of her ill-temper.

Unfortunately I am!

Is that the best they could come up with? "old bag". I thought The Guardian would have a better vocabulary than that. I am disappointed in them.

That's awful. I don't mind being a shrew but I'm not an old bag.

Utterly shocked