Schools minister refuses to answer simple sum on Good Morning Britain while promoting plan to teach times tables to kids
Nick Gibb wouldn't give the answer to the sum 8x9 when quizzed by Jeremy Kyle
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.