House of Lords staff have been told to avoid using “offensive” terms such as “man-made” or “manpower”.

The Lords has produced an “Inclusive Language Guide” with words and phrases to be avoided by employees.

The guide advises that instead of “ladies and gentlemen”, colleagues should be referred to with gender-neutral alternatives such as “one and all” or “folks”.

The manual for the upper chamber’s 650 staff fails to mention the Lords’ own masculine name.

The document obtained by The Mail on Sunday, says: “The language you use impacts others around you, if the words and phrases you use are offensive this may exclude certain groups of people based on assumptions; cause distress or embarrassment; reinforce derogatory labels or stereotypes and belittle certain groups of people.”

Instead of phrases like “manpower”, staff ought to use “workforce”. Rather than “man-made”, they should try “synthetic” or “artificial”.

In addition to gender-neutral language, it asks that colleagues talk about a person’s “socio-economic status” rather than their class.

Andrew Roberts, a historian, told the Mail: “It’s sad and somewhat pathetic that such ultra-wokery should have extended to the House of Lords, which ought to have remained above such ludicrous faddism.

“It is also hypocritical. Why isn’t it renaming itself the House of Lords, Ladies and Self-identifying Transsexual Peers?”

A House of Lords spokesman said: “Parliament strives to be an inclusive workplace where people are valued for the skills and experience they bring. Part of this is providing guidance and information to staff and line managers on inclusivity on an advisory basis.”

‘Avoid jargon, hierarchy or gender bias’

It comes after a leaked dossier showed that the UK’s spies had been urged to consider their “white privilege”.

Chiefs of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ have also told staff to avoid using words such as “manpower” because these can “reinforce dominant cultural patterns”.

The document’s author, Sir Stephen Lovegrove, the national security adviser, writes: “This toolkit is called Mission Critical because a diverse and inclusive culture is critical to succeeding in our national security missions.”

In a section on inclusive language, it says: “In national security, look out for words and phrases, such as ‘strong’ or ‘grip’, that reinforce the dominant cultural patterns. Avoid jargon, hierarchy or gender biases.”

Another says: “Use gender-neutral language to reflect people’s diversity and reduce stereotypes and assumptions, for example about job roles and functions which need not be gender-defined.”

A Whitehall spokesman said the guidance would be included in core training. “They are fundamental to the national security of the UK,” they added.

“That includes having people from different backgrounds, perspectives and ways of thinking.”