Chancellor reveals maths weakness

Gordon Brown met students with a trouser leg tucked into his sock

Gordon Brown, the man who has run the country's economy for 10 years, says he was never any good at maths.

He revealed his weakness when asked by a Manchester teenager if you had to be good at maths to be chancellor.

"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," Mr Brown laughed.

The pupils at Chorlton High School were greeted by the chancellor with one trouser leg oddly tucked into his sock.

He quickly untucked his trouser once an aide had pointed it out.

At the specialist performing art college he visited the pupil-run TV station and inspected the school's Maurice Gibb recording studio, named in honour of 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."

Asked by the BBC if he supported Manchester as the site of Britain's first supercasino, Mr Brown 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."