Brown aide set to be top civil servant

Gordon Brown's most senior Treasury official is tipped to be Whitehall's new chief civil servant in a further sign of a power transition to the Chancellor.

Gus O'Donnell, now permanent secretary at the Treasury, is said to be frontrunner for the powerful £220,000 post of Cabinet Secretary.

The appointment would be seen as a significant signal Tony Blair is willing to ensure a smooth handover to Mr Brown when he leaves No 10.

The rumours come days after Mr Brown was restored to membership of Labour's governing national executive.

Mr O'Donnell is one of several Treasury civil servants the Chancellor is thought to have pencilled in for senior positions if he becomes Prime Minister.

As Cabinet Secretary, the 52-year-old economist would set the agenda for 600,000 civil servants. He would also sit on a range of secret and influential Whitehall bodies, including meetings on intelligence.