Woke uni boss tells students not to say 'illegal immigrant' and instead call them 'undocumented' as it is 'dehumanising'

A university has told students not to use the term 'illegal immigrant' - as it is considered 'dehumanising' - and to use the word 'undocumented' instead.

An inclusive language guide issued by the London Metropolitan University urged staff and students to avoid saying 'illegal immigrant' over fears this phrase could cause offence.

Additional advice in the online guide, which has been slammed by a Tory MP as 'woke', suggests swapping terms such as 'crazy' and 'mad' for 'bananas'.

Nigel Mills, who is standing as the Conservative candidate in Amber Valley in Derbyshire, called the guide 'ludicrous woke nonsense.

He told The Sun: 'Illegal migrant is a simple factual term for someone who's not come to the UK legally.'

Mills continued: 'Surely universities have better uses for tuition fees than paying people to come up with this rubbish.'

London Metropolitan University, which has 12,500 students, said on its website: 'We are proud to have a university community that is diverse in age, ethnicity, nationality, sexuality, gender identity and many other characteristics.

'It is for this reason that striving for inclusive language use is so important to us – we want to use words that signify respect, recognise the nuances of our lived experience, and truly promote equitable outcomes.'

Instead of using gendered language when referring to a person's 'boyfriend', 'girlfriend', 'husband' or 'wife', London Met encouraged students to use the umbrella term 'partner'.

In a similar vein, 'mums' and 'dads' should be referred to as 'parents' or 'caregivers'.

The university also advises against ageist language such as 'elderly', 'old' and 'pensioner'.

A spokesperson for London Metropolitan University said: 'We take pride in our diverse community and our commitment to creating a welcoming environment where all students can succeed.

'This is not about political correctness; it's about ensuring everyone feels valued. We stand by our values and the positive impact of this guide.'