B4

It's interesting that many successful politicians and rich people seem to share a common characteristic: their surnames are likely to be in the first half of the alphabet.

 THEY

B5

Twenty-six of President Bush's predecessors, including his father, had surnames in the first half of the ABC against just 16 in the second half.

 HAVE

B6

Of 19 British prime ministers elected in the 20th century,

 ELECT

B7

all expect Wilson and Thatcher were blessed with surnames beginning with letters between A and M.

 SURNAME

B8

And the world's five richest men, including Gates, are all close to the top of the alphabet.

 RICH

B9

Even to Spice Girls, the most successful female group, follow the rule - Beckham (Adams), Brown, Bunton, Chisholm and Halliwell.

SUCCESSFUL

B10

The best hope for those people

 GOOD

B11

whose surnames do not begin/don’t begin with letters between A and M, is so go into business.

NOT BEGIN

B12

Nine of the world's 10 largest companies are run by bosses with surnames in the second part of the alphabet.

 RUN