Rag,
politicians have been castigated for using the term for almost 50 years.

Only in USA.

The mere fact that YOU don't acknowledge the term for what it is does not make the word acceptable

Not just me. Read the thread.

, not in 2008 when Boris Johnson issued an apology

He actually said it back in 2003, and nobody thought anything of it then.
He denied that it was racist, and just apologised that his words had caused offence.