For more than ten years he has been the most powerful figure in UK economics. Now he is the most powerful UK figure full stop.

Gordon Brown's decade as Chancellor of the Exchequer made him the longest-serving politician to hold the post continuously since the 1830s.

Former Transport Secretary and fellow Scot Alistair Darling has replaced him now that Mr Brown is Prime Minister.

During Mr Brown's tenure he was praised for putting the Bank of England in charge of setting interest rates, reducing corporation tax from the main rate of 33 per cent in 1997 to 28 per cent last year and for reducing unemployment rates.

However, many of his opponents dispute his claim of having achieved continuous economic growth, pointing out that the UK economy had been strengthening since the early 1990s, and they have criticised his handling of UK pension funds.

But what has the former Chancellor's impact been on Bradford and West Yorkshire?

Mike Cartwright, of Bradford Chamber, said: "The stability for the economy over that period has undoubtedly been a good thing for business - companies hate uncertainly and need to be confident with their planning and investment.

"Giving independence to the Bank of England was another sound decision. I think what companies have been more annoyed about has been the over-zealous way in which he has tinkered with the tax system.

"It may have been beneficial to financial experts giving advice but I think that even they would say that it annoyed the hell out of small companies and that it was too much about smoke and mirrors.

"We also wanted, back in 1997, to see more investment in education, skills and transport and, while that's happened, we have not yet seen that investment deliver on its objectives; he can't really be directly blamed for that, though."

In 2005, Mr Brown visited Saltaire-based Pace Micro Technology's factory in China and he has made several visits to the district during his time in office.

CBI director for Yorkshire & the Humber Penny Hemming said: "Although Gordon Brown has been Chancellor for the last ten years there are few clues about what a Brown premiership might be like.

"It is always difficult for a finance director to make the transition to CEO and there will undoubtedly be issues of style and the process of government.

"Brown has always operated with a small group of confidantes. That may need to change and, indeed, he has indicated that his government will reach out to talent wherever it is to be found.

"We do not expect dramatic change in policy. Economic stability will continue to feature at the top of his agenda, as will education, skills, innovation and wealth creation."

Mrs Hemming welcomed the structural changes which Prime Minister Gordon Brown made in his first few days.

"This is an imaginative re-shaping of the structure of government," she said. "The new brief of the Department of Business and Enterprise will ensure that it is able to champion the competitiveness agenda in critical areas of policy including energy, employment and regulation.

"At the same time, the appointment of John Hutton as Secretary of State will provide the strong voice in the new Brown cabinet that business was seeking so that government fully understands the realities of today's global economy.

"The creation of a Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills signals a new and much needed sense of urgency focused on the delivery of the right skills for our economic future. All of these areas contribute enormously to wealth creation in the UK.

"We are cautious about the separation of science and industry, as the UK needs to become better when it comes to the economic exploitation of science. Our creation and use of knowledge in the years ahead will define our ability to compete in tomorrow's global economy. The key test will be the strength of the department's economic focus which John Denham, as the new Secretary of State, will need to provide."

Last week, Mr Brown's new trade promotion minister, Sir Digby Jones, visited Bradford College to deliver a speech. The former head of the CBI will join the new Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.