Mark Francois Sparks Controversy with Racial Slur in Parliament

In a recent incident in the House of Commons, Mark Francois, a Tory MP, used a racial slur to refer to the Japanese during a question about naval shipbuilding. His comment was met with immediate backlash, prompting an official complaint from the Japanese government, highlighting the sensitivity of diplomatic relations. Following his remarks, Labour MP Sarah Owen condemned the comment as an 'ethnic slur', and Speaker of the House Lindsay Hoyle stated that such language 'should not be used'. Despite the outrage, Francois claimed that his intention was to compliment the Japanese shipbuilding industry, arguing that he was merely using the term as an abbreviation. This incident has raised significant concerns regarding the Conservative Party's handling of diplomatic matters and its impact on the UK's global standing. Additionally, external condemnation from political figures emphasizes the growing sentiment that Francois's choice of words is indicative of a broader issue within Conservative diplomacy.