Gordon Brown has made clear he will take charge of the economic policies in Labour's general election manifesto.

The chancellor was effectively sidelined as the party's campaign chief last month but campaigning in Newcastle yesterday he repeatedly referred to a third term programme which he has already decided on.

"This will mean the encouragement of more competition, flexibility, enterprise, more small business creation, more investment in science and innovation and skills on which our future depends," he said.

A poll published today in the Newcastle regional newspaper The Journal shows that 36 per cent of people would vote against the mini-parliament for the North East, 27.5 per cent would vote in favour and 36 per cent are undecided.