Keep it in the family

Beyonce's Dad, who may or may not be a great pop manager, is taking a leaf out of Tony Blair's book: announcing plans to step down, choosing a date way off in the future (five years, apparently) and creating an heir who can't seem to wait for him to roll over, but who is pretending patience.

Gordon Brown in this little playlet is Solange Knowles, Beyonce's sister and, therefore, according to our family tree making software, also Matthew Knowles' daughter. Brown was too busy today to grunt that she should make sure she gets something in writing, preferably in blood, but we bet he'd have thought it were he not constantly nipping out to the front door to see if the neighbour was making any sort of announcement in the street outside.