Schools minister refuses to answer simple sum on Good Morning Britain while promoting plan to teach times tables to kids

THE SCHOOLS minister was left red-faced today when he failed to answer a simple maths question on TV.

Nick Gibb was asked to do the sum "eight times nine" while promoting a new policy to teach the times tables to schoolkids.

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But he refused to respond - admitting he didn't want to risk getting his numbers wrong.

The embarrassing moment came when Mr Gibb, 57, appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain.

Stand-in host Jeremy Kyle asked the minister to lead by example by giving the correct answer to the multiplication sum.

But Mr Gibb replied: "I'm not going to get into this - I've learned through bitter experience never to answer these questions."

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Co-presenter Kate Garraway blasted, "You don't want to get into it because you're worried you might get it wrong" - and the minister said, "Correct."

Accused of bottling the test he wants young children to go through, Mr Gibb said: "No eight-year-old or nine-year-old will be doing it on live television!"

Mr Kyle replied: "Perhaps more politicians would be successful if they connected with the people who elect them."

The minister concluded: "I do know the answers to these questions, but I'm not going to do so on live television. This is an important, serious reform."

The right answer is 72.

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Previous ministers have been humiliated by getting the answer to basic factual questions wrong in interviews.

Mr Gibb's TV appearance was mocked by some viewers, who said he was being a coward.

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Jacquie Pearce tweeted: "A Government minister who won't answer a times table question when he's promoting the scheme for primary school, typical arrogance and disconnection with the people."

But others defended him - Peter Jones said: "He’s right not to answer, he’s a Government minister talking about a serious issue and you’re ignoring that."

The Government has announced new times tables test for kids aged eight and nine - the first time the skill will be compulsory since the 1940s.