Labour won its historic third term in power last night but with a heavily reduced majority.

The papers are united that the general election was a personal setback for Tony Blair, whose leadership prospects now look diminished.

The prime minister saw his Commons majority slashed from 161 to no more than 70 as seats were lost across the country.

The Times claims Blair will "limp back into Downing Street today" while the Sun describes the vote as a "kick in the ballots" and the Mail says it was a "bloody nose".

The Conservatives showed signs of revival in London and the South East, with Michael Howard having seemingly secured his position for now.

But the Tory revival stalled elsewhere in the country, with the party missing out on targets in the midlands and north of the country.

Charles Kennedy's Liberal Democrats failed to make significant breakthroughs against the Tories but scored some spectacular success in previously safe Labour seats such as Hornsey and Wood Green and Manchester Withington.

Blair said Labour would respond "sensibly, wisely and responsibly" to the message but insisted he had a mandate to govern again.