Humans’ ability to successfully multitask has long been debunked as a myth, but that hasn’t stopped us trying.
Here’s MP Michael Gove with a textbook example of how to fail at it.
During interrogation about possible trade agreements with the United States during a meeting of the government's Future Relationship with the EU Committee, Mr Gove appeared to laugh at his own response, before picking up a jug on the desk and dousing his own paperwork and possibly his mobile phone in water then eventually directing the stream of fluid to fill the single-use plastic cup in front of him.
In a video of the exchange, Labour MP Hilary Benn, chair of the committee, asks Mr Gove: “Why did the government publish 60 pages of economic assessment of the free trade with the United States of America if you are not persuaded of the benefit of such an assessment?”
With a smile Mr Gove replies: “Er, uh, it is an evolving picture,” giving a waggle of the head in a manner suggesting a suppressed chortle.
It was unclear what element of his response he found so satisfying.
In an exasperated tone, Mr Benn responded: “It is a contradiction.”
Mr Gove, still apparently delighted with his first reply, added: “No I don’t think it is. It’s an evolving picture and I’m not persuaded of the merits of…”
While speaking, footage shows Mr Gove planting a plastic glass in front of him and then reaching for a stainless steel silver jug to his right. It has a type of lid which requires pushing down with the thumb to open it, which he does while still speaking. He then pauses with the open jug suspended above the desk as he nears the end of his sentence.
“... publishing the assessments and then assuming those are going to give us an accurate prediction of the future.”
But just before the last five words escape his lips – “accurate prediction…” his hand tips the jug, the water escapes the vessel, the prediction of the location of the cup is not accurate, and the miscalculation is captured in all its minute glorious irony.
In the same meeting, Mr Gove also figuratively poured cold water over the next round of post-Brexit trade talks - which he said needed to be postponed due to the coronavirus crisis.
