UK PM faces election results nightmare

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown's leadership is under pressure after his party suffered its worst local election results for a generation.

The Labour Party lost more than 160 councilors and control of six local authorities across England and Wales in Thursday's countrywide poll.

The results are still coming in but early projections show Labour languishing in third place in the popular vote behind the Liberal Democrats and Conservative parties.

So far, the Conservatives have gained more than 140 seats and seven authorities in what leader David Cameron described as a "very big moment" for his party.

Official results are expected later Friday.

Brown tried to downplay the impact of Labour's bad performance blaming them on "difficult economic circumstances," UK's Press Association reported.

PA reported the PM saying he was "sad" for all the Labour councilors who had lost their seats in the election.

"I think people want to be assured, and indeed people are questioning and want to be assured, that the government will steer them through these difficult times," the agency reported.

He added: "The test of leadership is not what happens in a period of success but what happens in difficult circumstances."

However his political rival Cameron seized the chance to crow about the Tory party gains. Speaking to reporters as he left his home Friday, Cameron said: "I think 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."

"I think this is a very big moment for the Conservative Party, but I don't want anyone to think that we would deserve to win an election just on the back of a failing government," PA reported.

Labour's woes are being blamed on the current economic downturn, rising fuel prices and the Prime Minister's indecision over income tax issues. Brown had introduced measures to scrap the lowest rate of income tax which would hit those on a low income hardest.

Brown later backed down after revolt from members of his party and the electorate.

The poor poll showing is expected to make life extremely difficult for Brown, with members of the party increasingly concerned about their own prospects at the next general election.

His hopes now rest on the Labour's London mayoral candidate Ken Livingstone being voted back in for a third term against the Tory challenger, Boris Johnson.

The mayoral race declaration is not expected until Friday night.

Labour MP Kevin Brennan told BBC Radio Wales: "I have to accept it's not a good night for Labour, and a message from the electorate that we have to do better." E-mail to a friend

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