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Education Secretary Nicky Morgan refuses to answer simple maths question posed by schoolboy live on TV | Education Secretary Nicky Morgan refuses to answer simple maths question posed by schoolboy live on TV |
(35 minutes later) | |
What’s the cube root of 125? | What’s the cube root of 125? |
That was the question asked by a precocious schoolboy of Education Secretary Nicky Morgan on live television. | That was the question asked by a precocious schoolboy of Education Secretary Nicky Morgan on live television. |
But despite her senior position, Ms Morgan didn’t appear to know the answer to the simple maths question – or at least declined to proffer it if she did. | But despite her senior position, Ms Morgan didn’t appear to know the answer to the simple maths question – or at least declined to proffer it if she did. |
Leon Remphry, a 10-year-old reader of First News, quizzed the politician as she sat in the hotseat for Sky News’ Stand Up Be Counted programme. | |
“I think it’s probably best that politicians don’t do maths or spelling on air,” Ms Morgan laughed. | “I think it’s probably best that politicians don’t do maths or spelling on air,” Ms Morgan laughed. |
To which Leon replied: “I’m afraid I’ve got to press that question – do you know what the answer is?” | To which Leon replied: “I’m afraid I’ve got to press that question – do you know what the answer is?” |
Ms Morgan maintained that it would not be “wise” for her to answer. | Ms Morgan maintained that it would not be “wise” for her to answer. |
And she’s not the first minister to dodge a bit of light arithmetic. In July Chancellor George Osborne avoided a question posed by a 7-year-old schoolboy on the same show – despite mentioning he had an A-Level in maths. | And she’s not the first minister to dodge a bit of light arithmetic. In July Chancellor George Osborne avoided a question posed by a 7-year-old schoolboy on the same show – despite mentioning he had an A-Level in maths. |
The answer to seven times eight appeared to elude the man responsible for the UK’s economic and financial matters. | The answer to seven times eight appeared to elude the man responsible for the UK’s economic and financial matters. |
Just to be clear, the answers are five and 56. But you already knew that. | Just to be clear, the answers are five and 56. But you already knew that. |
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