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George Osborne refuses to answer schoolboy's simple '7 times 8' question
George Osborne was embarrassed today when he failed to answer a basic maths question.
The Chancellor was being interviewed by a panel of children on Sky News about the economy.
But he was left flummoxed when asked him what seven times eight is.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/georgeosborne/10942559/George-Osborne-stalls-over-7x8-times-table-question-from-a-seven-year-old.html
What a pathetic example to set by the Chancellor.
It says a lot about our politicians when they refuse to answer such a simple question.
The Chancellor was being interviewed by a panel of children on Sky News about the economy.
But he was left flummoxed when asked him what seven times eight is.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/georgeosborne/10942559/George-Osborne-stalls-over-7x8-times-table-question-from-a-seven-year-old.html
What a pathetic example to set by the Chancellor.
It says a lot about our politicians when they refuse to answer such a simple question.
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Comments
Oh yes, can't have the bloke running the economy doing that.
The journalist that wrote this story is as daft as the Tory MP who is (presumably) going to raise a Point of Order every time a member stands up in the house and says "Under the previous administration this figure was only one third by comparison......."
That level of pedantry is probably not a great idea. I commend this opinion to the Forum.
Come off it, he was asked a simple question by a kid and was so tied up in own politicking he couldn't even bring himself to answer it.
What a poor example to set anyone, let alone children.
People say politicians are out of touch, well this is a fine example of it. They can't even bring themselves to answer a simple times table question from a child in a program that is set up for children to ask questions.
That's assuming he knew the answer of course, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on that one.
But that child missed a trick, the correct thing to do would have been to suggest if he would then do an easier sum. Say, 2 x 4 ?
Extraordinary if he couldn't answer that simple question which most 7 year olds might be expected to know. But then he is a history graduate whose only two proper jobs outside politics were data entry of stats on dead people and folding towels in a shop.
Still I suppose he has officials to add things up!
When did he become chancellor?
You'll find it reported in all the major media not just the Telegraph...
George Osborne dodges simple maths question
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jul/03/george-osborne-refuses-boys-maths-test
George Osborne dodges child's question on eight times table live on TV
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/george-osborne-dodges-childs-question-on-eight-times-table-live-on-tv-9581566.html
etc etc
To be honest, I think you're being a little flippant and playing the pedant yourself.
One could easily take some interesting things from this whole event, from the sheer abrasive stiffness of our politicians, to the nit picking from the public which is probably a cause of politicians conduct.
At its most basic, I also wouldn't be totally surprised if Osborne couldn't actually answer the question either. Which is something coming from a government that seems to have a fixation on things like learning times tables.
He wasn't, he was Chief Sec to the Treasury
He joined the Cabinet in July 1998, as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and became a Member of the Privy Council. After the sudden resignation of Peter Mandelson, Byers was appointed as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in December 1998. After the 2001 general election, he was made Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government & the Regions.
This was a show set up specifically for kids to ask him questions, he gets asked one and the politician dodges it. FFS.
How do you know he doesn't?
Jol - It's Me.
It's just not in my Top 100 things I don't Like about George Osborne List
Lefties fall out Shocker
It was said jokingly. I've no idea.
People will try and turn it into a story about whether he knows or not though, but that isn't the full disgrace of this. His slippery behavior is the shame and disgrace.
He was right to avoid a loaded question.
"I've made it a rule in life not to answer."
Doesn't mean he didn't know the answer (7x7 is 49, add another seven, 56).
But he had a sure grasp of money when it came to cash for questions.
I question whether it is a good thing that school children should be meeting politicians and told beforehand they are very important people. The hour would have been better spent advising them that most are useless and corrupt.
6x9=42? really?
At least he could have given the children a lesson in base 13 arithmetic.
Yes, it's embarrassing but I can understand why Osborne didn't answer. If they get the answer wrong then they look stupid but if they get it right they either look smug or invite even more questions.
I notice you didn't answer it either, what's wrong your calculator not working ?
(and to save you taking your shoes and socks off to work out the anawer 7 X 8 = 56)