London council staff have been told to ditch everyday phrases like “husband and wife” and “mum and dad”—in case they offend.
The Labour-run Royal Borough of Greenwich has drawn up a 45-page “inclusive language” guide, uncovered by The Sun through a freedom of information request. It orders staff to use “spouse” or “partner” instead of “husband and wife,” drop “ladies and gentlemen” at public meetings, and avoid asking for a “Christian name.”
The booklet even tells workers: “It’s OK to make mistakes. Remember that if you are really sorry and apologise, you cannot keep making the same ‘mistake.’”
Greenwich bosses insist the rules are “advisory only,” but boast of their “very diverse workforce” and say the aim is to make staff reflect on how words might land.
Merton Council in south London went a step further earlier this month, sending out a 27-page list of dos and don’ts. Staff were told to say “caregivers” instead of “mum and dad,” avoid calling people “young” or “old,” and replace gendered terms like “man the desk” with “person-centred” language.
Its chief executive Hannah Doody denied any outright bans, saying the guide was only “tips and suggestions.”
And in Berkshire, Wokingham Council caused uproar after telling staff to stop saying “hard-working families” in case it upset the unemployed. Its guidance also blacklisted words like “blacklist” and “whitewash,” and even warned that “sustained eye contact” could be seen as aggressive.
