Woke council chiefs ban staff from calling people ‘old’ over fears it will upset OAPs

ONE of the most elderly parts of the UK has told staff not to use the word “old” – for fear of offending OAP residents. Woke chiefs at New Forest District Council, where the average age of a resident is 52, have told workers they should not use terms that could be viewed as ageist. Woke chiefs at New Forest District Council have told workers they should not use terms that could be viewed as ageist Credit: Alamy Lord Young, of the Free Speech Union, said: ‘As usual, a local authority thinks it’s protecting the vulnerable by banning hurty words’ Credit: Rex Barred words include “the elderly”, “old”, “young” and “millennials” – the generational term for people born between 1981 and 1996. In a language guide obtained by The Sun, diversity bosses wrote: “It’s usually unnecessary to refer to people using age-related descriptors. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! “Think about it first.” Instead, bosses reckon more suitable terms are “older people” and “younger people”. Elsewhere, the baffling guide, issued to staff who work on the council’s website, warns that non-inclusive language could “alienate the people you’re creating content for”. Other common language now thought to be too offensive includes “mentally ill”, “sick person”, “fireman/woman” and “ladies”. It is the latest example of council staff being told to use person-first language. The guide goes on: “Avoid medical labels. They say little about people as individuals and tend to reinforce stereotypes of disabled people as ‘patients’ or unwell. Most read in The Sun “Use neutral, non-gendered terms for professions. Avoid patronising language.” Gender should also not be a compulsory field on forms to avoid potentially upsetting non-binary residents. Lord Young, of the Free Speech Union, said: “As usual, a local authority thinks it’s protecting the vulnerable by banning hurty words. “If the New Forest district councillors really want to help local pensioners they should lay on more buses. “But, of course, that’s expensive, while banning the word ‘old’ costs nothing.” The New Forest was created by William the Conqueror in 1079 as a royal hunting ground for deer and wild boar. Nearly 1,000 years later much of the ancient woodland remains untouched. Famous residents include Dire Straits rock legend Mark Knopfler, 76, and F1 commentator Murray Walker, who lived there until his death aged 97 in 2021. New Forest District Council was invited to comment. Comment now