PM 'should call election' following defeat

David Cameron has urged the prime minister to call a general election following the SNP victory in Glasgow East.

Speaking to reporters on Friday morning, the Conservative leader said: "I think the prime minster should have his holiday but then I think we need an election.

"I think we need change in this country, and that's how change should come about."

Cameron said he was pleased the Conservatives candidate held the party's share of the vote and went from fourth to third place ahead of the Liberal Democrats.

"But I wonder whether we can put up with this for another 18 months," he said.

"I think whenever people have had a chance to speak about this government, whether at local elections, whether in Crewe, whether in Henley, whether in the London mayor elections and now in Glasgow, they have said 'Look, we think you're failing and we want change'.

Gordon Brown brushed off the threat of a leadership challenge, saying he was "getting on with the job".

Speaking on a visit to the West Midlands ahead of today's Labour policy forum, the prime minister said: "My full focus is on taking people through these difficult times."

Scottish secretary Des Browne admitted the result was a "bad night" for Labour, and said the party would "take it seriously".

The Labour candidate had paid the price for national gloom over economic circumstances, he told the BBC.

"Time and time again, people raised the issue of rising food and fuel prices," he said.

"They are biting and I'm afraid there is no easy short-term solution to them."

Defending the prime minister, he said: "Gordon Brown, in my view and the view of the party, is outstandingly the best politician in the country.

"He is a man of known strengths - the country knows his strengths."

He went on: "At the end of the day, when you ask them who is the man to see us through these tough times, they will tell us that.

"That doesn't necessarily mean that in an environment of a by-election they will go and vote for us, because they are sending other messages."