‘Brexit’ a dirty word now It’s now official. At least one state government in the UK has declared the term “Brexit” politically too toxic and banned its use in official correspondence and statements. The Labour-led Welsh Government has ordered its civil servants not to use Brexit to refer to Britain’s exit from the European Union. The period between February 1 and December 31, 2020 when Britain was in the process of leaving the EU, is to be referred to as the “transition” phase. The “Brexit” has acquired a divisive connotation because of the way it was used by Boris Johnson and his supporters during the 2016 referendum to polarise public opinion portraying opponents of Brexit as anti-national. It triggered widespread xenophobia leading to immigrants from EU countries being targeted and told to “go home”. Other terms banned in an updated official style-guide issued by the Welsh Government include “HM government” (Her Majesty’s government) to refer to the Central UK government; “BAME” for members of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities; and “able-bodied”. Substitutes recommended are UK government, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, and “non-disabled” respectively. And, oh, “Welsh Assembly” is no longer Welsh Assembly. It’s Welsh Parliament. The move has been greeted with mockery with some officials accusing the government of behaving like a “Big Brother gone bonkers” by banning words and phrases used every day by ordinary people. Is this what’s called “losing the plot”? as one official said
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