Gordon Brown has promised a new style of Government if he becomes Prime Minister, as widely expected, later this year.

In his first interview of the year in which he looks set to take over from Tony Blair, Mr Brown said he wanted a "new settlement" giving more power to Parliament and the people over issues such as whether Britain goes to war.

Mr Brown insisted he was not taking his move to 10 Downing Street for granted, and said he had not had a conversation with Mr Blair to set a date for the transition of power.

He praised Mr Blair as "a brilliant Prime Minister and an excellent leader of the Labour Party who has taken very brave and difficult decisions on so many occasions for which he should be applauded".

But he made clear that he plans to take a much more inclusive approach if he takes power, saying that he wants "a Government of all the talents" drawing on expertise from outside as well as inside."

He added: "I would see the state as the servant state'. I would see Government as serving people. I would see the service emphasis of Government as being incredibly important."

Mr Brown confirmed previous hints that he would be prepared to give the House of Commons a vote on any future decision to go to war, saying that except in an "extreme emergency" he could not conceive of a situation in which it would not have a role to play.

Mr Brown said education would be "the priority" in future years, and he spoke of his desire to see all youngsters remain in education until the age of 18.

He identified the other major priorities of the coming decade as being the "unprecedented" security challenge of terrorism, threats to the environment and the need to maintain the health of the economy.

However, former Labour welfare reform minister Frank Field said it was not inevitable that the leadership mantle would be passed to Mr Brown when Mr Blair stands down.

He added: "If there is a serious candidate against Gordon Brown and they are properly nominated then anything could happen in that campaign of six weeks."