Sadiq Khan’s staff banned from using phrase ‘men and women’ or referring to ‘illegal’ migrants in woke drive
CIVIL servants working for Sadiq Khan are banned from referring to “men and women” in the latest bid to go ultra-woke.
The Labour Mayor’s staff are also ordered not to describe any migrant as “illegal” – but call them people “with insecure immigration status” or simply “undocumented”.
City Hall’s inclusivity guide – leaked to the Sun – was last night dismissed as political correct “nonsense” by critics.
The gender section of the memo tells employees: “Avoid using ‘men and women’ – say ‘people’ or ‘Londoners’.
“Similarly, instead of ‘ladies and gentlemen’ say something that doesn’t exclude non-binary people.”
It says the terms male and female are “dated and medicalised” and that “female humans are called ‘girls and/or women’, male humans are called ‘boys and/or men’”.
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Staff are told to refer to “people affected by period poverty” because “not all women have periods” and some trans men and non binary people have them.
Try MP Miriam Cates said: “The whole point of language is that it is commonly understood by those who use it.
“When language is corrupted by elites without popular consensus, our shared culture is weakened and common sense is sacrificed.
“The idea that ‘male’ and ‘female’ are medical conditions is frankly absurd. This taxpayer funded guidance is in conflict with fact, reality and the law.”
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On the issue of migration, the guide says GLA staff must not refer to “asylum seekers” but instead say “people seeking asylum”.
And it adds: “Remember, we are all Londoners. Don’t make a distinction between ‘migrants’ and ‘Londoners.”
What you can't say at City Hall
DON’T SAY:
Illegal migrant – use “undocumented” or “with insecure immigration status”
Non-English speakers – this positions them as flawed and defective
EU nationals – use European Londoners and their families or EEA citizens to be as inclusive as possible
Ladies and gentlemen – say something that doesn’t exclude non-binary people
Male or female – Female humans are called ‘girls and/or women’, male humans are called ‘boys and/or men’.
Bed blockers – say “people waiting to be discharged or transferred”
Kids – it’s patronising. Use “young Londoners”.
Tory MP Tom Hunt said last night: “This is the sort of nonsense that would be imposed on the whole country if Labour were ever to get into power.
“If you’ve illegally entered our country and broken our immigration laws you’re an ‘illegal immigrant’ end of. No ifs or buts.”
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Staff working for Mr Khan are also banned from saying someone is a “non-English speaker” – because it portrays them as “flawed and defective”- and are told to refer to “Londoners with English Language needs”.
Similarly the guide prohibits describing someone as “illiterate” because it “positions the person as lacking”.
Unconscious bias training is mandatory for all new staff at the Greater London Authority.
A spokesperson for the Greater London Authority said: “This guide is about encouraging precision, offering recommendations and highlighting things for staff to consider, not banning words.
“London’s diversity is its greatest strength and it is right that the language we use to talk to and about London’s communities is as accurate, inclusive and representative as possible.”