Boris Johnson sealed a nightmarish first electoral test for Gordon Brown, surging to a hugely symbolic victory for the Conservatives in London.

Mr Johnson claimed the largest prize of a triumphant day for David Cameron by ending Ken Livingstone’s eight-year reign as London Mayor. He said that he did not believe that his victory meant that London was a Conservative city, but pledged to work “flat out” to earn the trust of those who doubted his capability and commitment to the job.

Mr Livingstone, fighting back tears, said that the fault for his defeat was entirely his own.

Mr Brown suffered humilation across the country as the party lost an astonishing 331 seats. It was Labour’s worst election night for 40 years, leaving its local government and campaigning base severely weakened and ministers fearing for their survival at the next general election.

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Mr Brown accepted that it had been a “bad night” and vowed to “listen and lead”. He will launch a fightback this weekend to show the country that he can take it through difficult times.

Yesterday’s huge reverses make it almost certain that the next general election will take place in 2010 rather than next year. Personal criticism of Mr Brown from the Labour side was muted. Hazel Blears, the Communities Secretary, told him that the message was to “get a grip”; one MP said that he had suffered a “John Major moment”; and his closest ally Ed Balls said that the results could not be dismissed as a traditional midterm kick to the governing party.

The electorate was cross with Labour, Mr Balls said.

To compound Labour’s difficulties, the party faces months without a general secretary after it was forced to abandon the appointment of David Pitt-Watson, Mr Brown’s personal choice. Mr Pitt-Watson was said to have been daunted by the size of the job and concerned that he might have been personally liable for the party’s multi-million-pound debts.

Mr Brown’s main worry will be whether party discipline holds up as MPs fret about their re-election prospects. Last night’s results show that Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, and Ruth Kelly, the Transport Secretary, are highly vulnerable in their seats.

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