In a last ditch effort to avert his painful decline in opinion polls, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has decided to go black face for the remaining tenure of his term in Downing Street.
Having seen the effect of Barack Obama's popularity in the 'States, Gordon Brown believes that only a radical departure from style will earn him "brownie" points with the electorate. After a long and tortuous Cabinet meeting today, the Prime Minister announced that he would change his skin colour to a darker complexion, approximating that of a Kenyan native not unlike the President Elect.
"I have seen the future," he announced, "and it is black".
Mr Brown says he may use boot polish to achieve this transformation though he wouldn't be drawn on speculation that charcoal and tar might be preferred options.
Sources close to Mr Brown denied that he was considering a black and white minstrel show appearance to his Cabinet.
