A Labour-run council has told staff not to use certain words and phrases over fears of causing upset. In its Addressing Stigma Language Guide, Nottingham City Council states, “it is crucial for the language we use to be positive, empowering and free from negative connotations”.

Rather than “asylum seeker”, staff are encouraged to say a “person seeking asylum”, which is described as a “person-first” alternative. Instead of “alcoholic”, officials are urged to say a “person who drinks alcohol problematically” or a “person who is dependent on alcohol”. Conservative MP Sir Alec Shelbrooke slammed the eight-page guide.

He told The Sun: “This is typical of left-wing local politicians, trying to pretend that all their problems can be solved with words.

“Trying to change the language does nothing to hide anything — the public still know it’s happening, and they know that these people are asylum seekers.

“These types of people ought to be trying to fix problems in their areas, rather than messing about with words.”

The language guide also encourages staff to say a transgender person has had a “gender affirming/confirmation surgery”, rather than the term “sex change”.

Instead of “elderly”, workers are told to say “older person/people”.

Staff are also advised against the use of the word “frail”.

Alternatively, they are encouraged to say a “person at high risk of adverse outcomes, admission to hospital or the need for long-term care”.

The language guide states: “Using person-first language acknowledges that a person is not defined by their condition.

“It is a characteristic that they have, not something that they are.”

Express.co.uk has approached Nottingham City Council for comment.