The chancellor is building his own policy platform for the Labour leadership, according to a new inside account.

Gordon Brown is now convinced that Tony Blair will never hand over power to him voluntarily, according to a new book written by the journalist Robert Peston, with co-operation from Brown and Ed Balls, his former chief aide.

The chancellor yesterday claimed tomorrow's pre-Budget report will set out a "patriotic vision" of Britain's economic future.

Yesterday Brown used a speech to pick up on themes of "Britishness" that he has been developing this year.

But the comments, coming after he was warned not to "exaggerate" his economic record, sparked alarm among pro-Europeans who fear Brown is holding Britain back.

But Brown said being British meant being pro-European.

The chancellor is also expected to use the pre-Budget report to announce plans to boost the number of children's centres from 800 to 3,500 over the next six years.