SHAPE UP OR GO, MPS TELL BROWN

Conservative leader David Cameron spoke of a “coalition for change” ready to sweep Labour out of office. And he declared the poll marked “the death of New Labour” after the momentous 17.6 per cent swing to the Tories. “It was a new dawn in politics,” he said.

Labour’s 7,078-vote majority at the last general election in the Cheshire constituency evaporated, turning into a 7,860 majority for Tory candidate Edward Timpson.

Mr Brown tried to brush aside talk of a leadership challenge by repeating his claim to be able to “take the British economy through what are very difficult times”. But a string of Labour MPs yesterday gave him just months to turn around the party’s fortunes.

Former minister Graham Stringer said: “It is the responsibility of senior members of the Cabinet to say we’re going in the wrong direction, it’s possible to change the situation we’re in at the moment and to say to Gordon that they intend to stand for election.

“Without that, we’re heading for a disaster at the next general election.”

He added: “We either have to have a leadership challenge or new leader or keep our fingers crossed. And keeping our fingers crossed will not be good enough.”

Labour backbench MP John Grogan said: “We’re fighting for our political lives now. Clearly, the Prime Minister will have a reshuffle over the next few weeks.” He called for heavyweight figures to be brought into the Government, including former Home Secretary Charles Clarke.

But Mr Clarke is among a string of senior Labour figures who are now in danger of losing their seats. Chancellor Alistair Darling and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith would also go if Thursday’s swing were repeated at a general election. Other Cabinet members set to be turfed out include Jack Straw, John Hutton and Ruth Kelly.

The number of Labour MPs would be cut from 351 to 181, giving the Tories a Commons majority of about 200.

The result was also a blow for Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg. His party would slump from 63 MPs to just 16.

Labour backbencher Alan Simpson gave Mr Brown “until the end of the year to change direction or I think it’s the end of the pier”.

And Compass, a left-of-centre campaign group, accused the Prime Minister of “serial mistakes”.

Ministers and MPs alike conceded that Labour had been punished for the spiralling cost of living and concerns about the economy. But senior Tories insisted the result was also a “positive vote” for their alternative.

Mr Cameron celebrated yesterday by sweeping into Crewe’s Market Square. It was his fifth visit to the constituency within three weeks, while Mr Brown kept away throughout the campaign.

He promised “not one hint of triumphalism or complacency” as the Tories continue to prepare for the next election, expected in the spring or summer of 2010.

He praised Mr Timpson for his stunning victory over Labour candidate Tamsin Dunwoody. She was the daughter of Gwyneth Dunwoody, the veteran Labour MP whose death last month led to the by-election.

It was the first constituency to switch from Labour to Tory at a by-election for 30 years, dating back to a few months before Margaret Thatcher swept into No10.

Shadow Chancellor George Osborne said Labour’s “class war” campaign – smearing Tories as “toffs” – showed that Labour was the “new nasty party”.

Mr Brown admitted the vote had been a “clear and unequivocal” message to the Government. But he tried to brush away questions about his leadership while touring St Thomas’ Hospital in south London yesterday.

“The message we are getting is that people are concerned,” he said. 

“They are concerned about food prices, concerned about petrol prices and concerned about what is happening to the economy.” 

Labour’s deputy leader Harriet Harman said Mr Brown would not be forced out of office. And Schools Secretary Ed Balls, a key Brown ally, said: “We know that governments in mid-term have difficult by-elections and there have been times in the past when governments have had bad swings.

“These are difficult times, times when you need strong leadership, values and experience. Gordon Brown has the right values as a leader but it is not going to be turned around in a week.”

Mr Brown’s standing took a further knock last night as an opinion poll confirmed his plummeting personal popularity. Research by pollsters ComRes for the BBC showed that 46 per cent of voters believe Mr Cameron would make a better Prime Minister than Mr Brown, on 23 per cent.

The Prime Minister is facing another by-election test within weeks, with Tory MP Boris Johnson’s Henley constituency expected to be up for grabs soon.

Mr Johnson is quitting Westminster to concentrate on his new job as London Mayor.

Tory strategists have pencilled in June 26 or July 3 as the most likely dates for the poll.