A Tory MP boasted about his army training and got dragged – 9 major takedowns

Conservative MP, Mark Francois, burst out of relative obscurity into the tawdry spotlight of ERG infamy with a racist tirade against the German Airbus CEO and a staring match with Will Self. His latest self-own came during an interview with Sky’s deputy political editor, Beth Rigby, and at least matches the other two in the WTF stakes.

“I was in the army, I wasn’t trained to lose” – fighting talk from ERG’s Mark Francois pic.twitter.com/cGyJ9JjLFR

— Fraser Nelson (@FraserNelson) March 13, 2019

“I was in the Army. I wasn’t trained to lose.”

There’s one slight issue with his claim, as his Wikipedia page shows.

Naturally, Twitter had a few things to say on the matter.

1.

He was in the TA. No disrespect to the TA, but he wasn’t exactly parachuted into Tora Bora with a knife clenched in his teeth was he? https://t.co/WTqIGoUqGR

— David Banks (@DBanksy) March 13, 2019

2.

SYBIL FAWLTY: He was in the Catering Corps. He poisoned them. https://t.co/DLLzGtwEsF

— Dan Rebellato (@DanRebellato) March 13, 2019

3.

According to wiki he was in the TA and therefore only not trained to lose at weekends. https://t.co/L1OP6KldRt

— Peter Smith (@Redpeter99) March 13, 2019

4.

Only a schmuck would say:
"I was in the army, I wasn't trained to lose"- outloud.#MarkFrancois–#ERG https://t.co/fiQgkrDu8p

— Bonnie Greer (@Bonn1eGreer) March 13, 2019

5.

Has anyone ever had training on how to lose? People obviously learn that on the job, but failure training in most professions isn't a thing. https://t.co/8GIK4PcnwP

— Jess Phillips (@jessphillips) March 13, 2019

6.

He was in the Territorial Army for six years, never promoted beyond lieutenant. That is the very definition of weekend warrior. And he's *still* banging on about it. https://t.co/o8hto6OJE8

— The Dark Knight (@CityJohn) March 13, 2019

7.

You were in the Territorial Army, that's just, to quote Who Dares Wins, 'running around Epping Forest with twigs in your hat'. https://t.co/NVN96eIXhd

— Justin Lewis (whenisbirths on rival platforms) (@WhenIsBirths) March 13, 2019

8.

Is that relevant, I mean I had a paper round and they didn't train me to lose either

— Rolphsterfer (@rolphey) March 13, 2019

9.

OMG here it is. Thank you! https://t.co/yzXdcloXOH

— Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) March 13, 2019

The very funny @mutablejoe had a general question about Mark Francois.
https://twitter.com/mutablejoe/status/1105945279650562048

Answers on a postcard to …