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Alan Sugar calls for non-binary pronoun 'promoters' to be 'shipped off to Mongolia'

Amy Johnson
·Contributor
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 18: Baron Sugar speaks at the British Chamber of Commerce Annual Conference held at the headquarters of BAFTA on March 18, 2010 in London, England. The annual conference entitled 'Preparing for Change - Setting the Business Agenda' will hear from keynote speakers from business, politics academia and the media including: Lord Mandelson, Kenneth Clarke, Lord Adonis, Baron Sugar, Trevor Phillips, Stephen Hester and Christine Lagarde. The British Chamber of Commerce is a network of 56 accredited Chambers of Commerce across the UK serving over 100,000 businesses, it is celebrating its 150th anniversary throughout 2010. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images)
Baron Sugar speaks at the British Chamber of Commerce Annual Conference held at the headquarters of BAFTA on March 18, 2010. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Lord Alan Sugar, 72, has suggested those "promoting" the use of non-binary pronouns should be "shipped off to Mongolia" in a recent interview.

The business mogul expressed his views on individuals using non-binary pronouns, with his comments coming after singer Sam Smith revealed they wished to be referred to by they/them pronouns after coming out as non-binary.

"They need to pack it in, it’s nonsense. The people promoting it need to be shipped off to Mongolia," he said in an interview with The Sun.

"Send them away, get them out of the country. Go away. It always boils down to a small bunch of people that promote it."

Read more: The Apprentice candidate reveals criminal past

Lord Sugar went on to say: "It is absolutely crazy, you can’t say anything nowadays without offending somebody with how they look, dress, the colour of their skin or whatever. It’s sickening, quite frankly.”

EMBARGOED TO 0001 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 02 Undated BBC Handout Photo from The Apprentice. Pictured: (L-R) Baroness Brady, Lord Alan Sugar, Claude Littner. See PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV The Apprentice. Picture credit should read: PA Photo/BBC/Boundless/Ray Burmiston. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV The Apprentice. WARNING: Use of this copyright image is subject to the terms of use of BBC Pictures' Digital Picture Service (BBC Pictures) as set out at www.bbcpictures.co.uk. In particular, this image may only be published by a registered User of BBC Pictures for editorial use for the purpose of publicising the relevant BBC programme, personnel or activity during the Publicity Period which ends three review weeks following the date of transmission and provided the BBC and the copyright holder in the caption are credited. For any other purpose whatsoever, including advertising and commercial, prior written approval from the copyright holder will be required
Pictured: (L-R) Baroness Brady, Lord Alan Sugar, Claude Littner. See PA Feature SHOWBIZ TV The Apprentice. PA Photo/BBC/Boundless/Ray Burmiston.

The 15th series of The Apprentice kicks off tonight at 9pm with Lord Sugar returning to the boardroom alongside aides Karren Brady and Claude Littner.

The former Spurs chairman has fronted the programme since it began back in 2005, and has previously divulged that he'd like to appear on the show for a further five seasons to reach the 20th anniversary before handing in his notice.

“We’ve got one more series I’m contracted to for the record. That will be the 16th and the format owner will be eagerly chasing after us,” he told The Mirror.

British businessman Alan Sugar holds the Reality and Factual Award for Young Apprentice at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, May 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
British businessman Alan Sugar holds the Reality and Factual Award for Young Apprentice at the British Academy Television Awards in London, Sunday, May 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

“I might do it to 20, yeah 20 sounds a round figure.”

Viewers will see 15 candidates battle it out for a £250,000 investment into their businesses from Lord Sugar with this year's crop of contestants including a librarian, a motivational speaker and a pillow company owner.

The Apprentice launches tonight at 9pm on BBC One.