Brown leadership under pressure

The result, on a massive 17.6% swing, was described by a jubilant Conservative leader David Cameron as "the end of New Labour" and sparked one backbencher to call for a leadership challenge.

A defiant Mr Brown vowed to fight on, but there appeared to be a mood of panic among some Labour MPs.

Former Government whip Graham Stringer called openly for Cabinet ministers to come out and challenge for the leadership, while others called for a reshuffle.

Even loyalists admitted they were facing a "fight for our political lives".

Senior ministers publicly rallied round the Prime Minister, insisting the defeat was the result of the turmoil in the international economy which has sent food and fuel prices soaring.

But he was reported to be under intense pressure behind the scenes to act quickly to defuse public concerns over tax and the cost of living.

Mr Brown brushed aside questions about his leadership. He said: "The task that I have set for myself is that we take this economy through difficult times into a future where we have both fairness for all and prosperity for the British people."

Mr Stringer said there was now a "real debate" within the party as to whether it was better to get rid of Mr Brown or to hope their fortunes would pick up before the next General Election.

"If the party is to renew itself and get its policies in line with what the people we represent want, then it is the responsibility of senior members of the Cabinet to say 'We're going in the wrong direction, it's impossible to change the situation that we are in at the moment' and to say to Gordon that they intend to stand for election," he said. "Without that, we are heading for electoral disaster at the next General Election."