Find local news in Kent

Home   Maidstone   News   Article

Sports minister and Maidstone and the Weald MP Helen Grant left red-faced after failing to answer single question right in basic quiz

10:00, 26 November 2013

updated: 10:10, 26 November 2013

She claimed sport was "in her DNA" when she was promoted to sports minister, but Kent MP Helen Grant has been stumped by a basic quiz.

The Conservative MP for Maidstone and the Weald was left red-faced when she failed to get a single question right about a range of sports.

She stumbled her way through five questions - including the name of the current FA cup title holders, this year's Wimbledon women's champion and the identity of the current England rugby union captain.

Maidstone and Weald MP Helen Grant
Maidstone and Weald MP Helen Grant

But Mrs Grant's sporting credentials fell spectacularly short as she attempted to answer all of them during a surprise quiz at a hockey event... but answered none correctly.

Astonishingly, she also did not know when Maidstone United - in her constiuency - had left the football league.

Mrs Grant said: "These are hard questions", before adding "last year". The right answer was 1992.


Can you answer the questions that stumped sports minister Helen Grant?

1. Who won the women's title at Wimbledon?

2. Which team currently holds the FA Cup title?

3. Who is the captain of the England Rugby Union team?

4. When did Maidstone United leave the football league?

5. Which Paralympian won the most gold medals at London 2012?

Scroll down for the answers


She also did not know which Paralympic competitor had won more gold medals than any other at London 2012.

After the interview with ITV Merdian, Mrs Grant was later reported as saying: "I wasn't told there was going to be a quiz thrown in at the end of an interview. If I'd known I would have done some proper revision.

"My sports pub quiz knowledge may not be encyclopaedic, but I completely understand the positive impact that participating in sport has on people's lives."

Scroll down for audio

Kent MP Helen Grant was promoted to sports minister in October
Kent MP Helen Grant was promoted to sports minister in October

Mrs Grant, who was promoted to sports minister last month, was an under-16 judo champion in the north of England and southern Scotland.

She was also captain of her school tennis and hockey teams and represented Cumbria at hockey, tennis, athletics, and cross country.

Reporter David Weston puts the questions that stumped Helen Grant to shoppers in Rochester today

What do you think of Helen Grant's efforts? Join the debate below.


The answers Helen Grant did not get

1. Marion Bartoli

2. Wigan Athletic

3. Chris Robshaw

4. 1992

5. Jacqueline Freney


This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More