Peter Mandelson was out on the stump in Hartlepool yesterday as he ruled himself out of a return to Government.

Mr Mandelson is expected to keep his seat despite fierce opposition from candidates such as Arthur Scargill.

Yesterday he looked every bit the dedicated constituency man as he toured the Headland district of Hartlepool.

The former Ulster secretary visited an old people's home and stopped to coo over baby Thomas Donkin. nine months.

He told BBC Radio Four's Today programme that he would not be trying to recover his place in high office.

When asked if he would be returning to Government, he replied: "I don't want to return to Government.

"I am very happy indeed focusing on Hartlepool. focusing on my constituency and the very real issues and challenges that this region in the North East is facing. That is what I want to do,"

Amanda Bell, 29, of Hartlepool, said: "He looks as though he is really enjoying himself these days.

"Whenever I have seen him out canvassing he seems to be in his element just talking to people in Hartlepool.

"The pressure is off him now and he can concentrate on getting himself elected.

"When he was in the cabinet people here worried that we weren't getting his full attention, "Now it looks as though he is happy to be a full-time constituency MP and that can only be good for the town..

"I think he'll get in, especially if people know he doesn't have any ambitions to get back into a cabinet post."