The PM banging on – again – about numeracy doesn’t look likely to provoke the conflict he’s hoping for
The prime minister has fallen off the not-talking-about-maths wagon. Until last week, he hadn’t done a speech about maths since 3 January. I wrote at the time that I thought he was seeking solace in the familiarity of a favourite school subject. It’s a difficult time of year for most of us, all resolutions and pine needles, anyone might need comforting. Now it’s the spring with its scent of optimism and blossom. But not for Rishi: last Monday, he did a big speech about maths again.
To be clear, he wasn’t updating us on the maths policy he announced in January. Back then, he pointed out that in Britain, unlike most other major economies, children don’t have to learn any maths after the age of 16. Last week, he said it again. In January, he was saying how our children’s futures, and the UK’s economy, are held back by numeracy problems. Last week, he said it again.
