Black Friday rocks Brown

Gordon Brown was reeling today from the worst election disaster for Labour since the 1960s – with the possibility of worse to come as Boris Johnson is set to oust Ken Livingstone as Mayor of London.

The Prime Minister promised to "learn lessons" after losing more than 200 council seats and suffering in key general election battlegrounds in the West Midlands and Staffordshire.

With more counts taking place today, Labour looked set to fall into third place behind rampant Conservatives and the Lib Dems.

Tory insiders were confident that Mr Johnson would secure a result in the capital by beating Mr Livingstone.

Early projections put the national vote outside London at Conservatives 44 per cent, Lib Dems 25 and Labour 24.

Mr Brown said: "This has been a disappointing night, indeed a bad night for Labour."

Declaring that he would "move forward", he went on: "My job is to listen and to lead, and it's what I will do.

"People want to be assured the Government will steer them through these difficult times."

Mr Cameron described the results as "a very big moment" for his party, but he cautioned against Tory triumphalism.

He said: "These results are not just a vote against Gordon Brown and his Government. I think they are a vote of positive confidence in the Conservative Party."

Conservatives gained seats at the expense of Labour across the West Midlands and Staffordshire.

The party took overall control of Wyre Forest and picked up seats in Black Country boroughs.

The Tories increased their majority in Dudley to 14 from 10.

Conservatives picked up four seats in Sandwell and swept up half of the 14 seats available in Cannock Chase.

In Birmingham, the Conservatives wrestled six seats from Labour to strengthen their position as the city's largest party. Walsall remained unchanged, with the Tories in control.

Counting was starting in Wolverhampton today, with an early casualty Labour's Milkinder Jaspal.

More reports and full results round-up in Friday's Express & Star.