Spelthorne Borough Council issues inclusive language guide

Spelthorne Borough Council in Surrey has issued an updated inclusive language and communication guide for its staff. The Liberal Democrat-led coalition council suggests that using gender-neutral terms like ‘they’ or ‘them’ instead of ‘he’ or ‘she’ can help diminish stereotypes and make employees feel more comfortable.

The guide includes various recommendations for replacing traditional terms with alternatives. For example, it encourages using ‘spouse or partner’ instead of ‘husband or wife’, and ‘chair or chairperson’ rather than ‘chairman/chairwoman’. Other suggestions include replacing ‘alcoholic’ with ‘alcohol-use disorder’ and using ‘developing countries’ instead of ‘third world’.

The document has faced criticism for being ‘authoritarian’. Previous versions of the guide were noted for labeling terms such as ‘manpower’, ‘blacklist’, and ‘ladies’ as offensive. The current guidance also advises against certain terms related to physical disabilities, such as ‘blind spot’ or ‘lame’, suggesting replacements like ‘problem area’ or ‘not enjoyable’.