'I'm no good at maths' admits Gordon Brown » Central Government » 24dash.com

Chancellor Gordon Brown admitted today that he was not very good at maths.

During an interview by schoolchildren in Manchester the man who has steered the UK's economy for the past 10 years said some people thought that inability showed.

He was asked by 13-year-old Jordan Beaumont of Chorlton High School's pupil-run TV station if you had to be good at maths to be Chancellor.

Mr Brown laughed as he answered: "I did maths at school and for one year at university but I don't think I was ever very good at it - and some people would say it shows."

The prime minister-in-waiting recovered quickly from an embarrassing start to his visit, where he greeted pupils waiting outside with his left trouser leg inexplicably tucked completely into his sock.

After a whispered comment from an aide, he corrected the sartorial mistake and continued his tour of the specialist performing art college's top quality facilities.

The Chancellor watched a movement-to-music in the mixed comprehensive's theatre, before inspecting the school's Maurice Gibb recording studio, named after the late Bee Gee.

"The facilities are amazing here - far better than when I was at school," he told pupils. "The equipment is very impressive."

The school, which teaches some 1,400 children aged 11 to 16, has recently been designated a training school, meaning the Government has marked it out as a beacon of good practice for other schools in the area.

Mr Brown concluded his visit by debating Manchester United's hopes in tonight's Champion League semi-final with pupils on the school's council.

"He was very relaxed and at ease talking to the children," headteacher Andy Park said.

"He seemed very engaged with them and genuinely interested in what they had to say."

During a brief interview with the BBC as he left, the Chancellor gave his backing to Manchester's successful bid to house Britain's first supercasino.

Asked if he supported the independent panel's decision to award the city the contract, he said: "That's what I voted for but unfortunately the House of Lords has set it back.

"I voted for it and I want to see it go through. We have to resolve this."

Copyright Press Association 2007

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