Brown's Labour Party suffers crushing defeat at council elections; PM's office at stake

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has accepted responsibility for his party's defeat

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The Sun and the mass-circulation Daily Mail, whose support is regarded as critical for any prime minister, gave him breathing room in their Monday editions.

"After Labour's worst local election drubbing in 40 years, he knows he has to listen and learn," the Mail said in its editorial.

"For 11 years, New Labour has never had to pay much attention to public opinion because it faced no credible opposition. On a whole range of issues ... ministers thought they could do as they liked," it said.

However, "Mr. Brown's embrace of consumer-friendly policies is a welcome first sign of the new political realities," it added.

The Sun, meanwhile, noted that because Brown did not have to call an election until May 2010 at the latest, underlining that he "at least has time on his side - and the country's mood has rarely been so changeable."

"Things look bleak. But he cannot be written off," the newspaper said.

But with parliamentary elections due by May 2010 and the Conservatives suddenly looking like the favourites, Brown and his colleagues have a huge task on hand to win back the voter confidence.

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