It May Be Offensive to Say ‘Husband’ or ‘Wife’, Council Staff Told
19th August 2025
A London council has advised staff not to refer to married couples as husband and wife.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich council in southeast London has provided its staff with an inclusive language guide which suggests they use terms “spouse” or “partner” instead to avoid offending anyone who does not identify as a man or woman.
he 45-page booklet, obtained by The Sun through a freedom of information request, also asks the council’s employees to avoid welcoming “ladies and gentlemen” if they are running public meetings and events.