IN a surprising admission, the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, conceded last night his government could lose the general election if public opinion does not change within nine weeks.

Following the Tories' humiliating defeat in the Wirral by-election, Mr Major now leads a minority government and frankly admitted this result could be repeated nationally "if nothing changes", ensuring a Labour victory. "We have not got very long, I agree. If opinion doesn't change then we will have a Labour government," he said.

Clearly jubilant, the Labour leader, Mr Tony Blair, described the result as a "political uprising against the Tories" and pointed out that if the 17 per cent swing to Labour at the Wirral South by-election was repeated nationally then they would have a House of Commons majority of 296 seats.

"This result is nothing short of a political uprising against the Tories deep in their heartland. There are no no-go areas for New Labour. Stop the dithering and name the day," he added.

Earlier Mr Major appeared robust, blaming the result on a "by-election culture of kicking the government" and he claimed the "phoney war" was now over and the real fight had begun.

"The battle is still to be fought. Does Britain change course, does it move towards the policies of socialism? Or does it stay with the policies that have made it successful? That is the choice that lies ahead, he said.

To add to the Tories' woes, the high turnout of 73 per cent meant their voters had changed allegiance to the Labour Party rather than choosing to stay at home. There are 130 Tory MPs who have - a lower majority than in Wirral South. Pundits predict that nationally Labour only needs a 4.3 per cent swing to win the general election.

However, the deputy Prime Minister, Mr Michael Heseltine, predicted the Tories would win the general election with a majority of 60 seats and stressed he was confident the electorate will soon benefit from the government's policies.

"It was the sort of result we expected. I made it quite clear a couple of weeks ago that we would get kicked in this by-election. A general election is quite a different issue. This country has a very exciting potential because government policies are working. That's the message we need to get across now. We will get a majority of 60 and nudging up," he added.

The Liberal Democrats' leader, Mr Paddy Ashdown, suggested Mr Major should know that the "longer you leave it the harder you fall" and urged him to call an immediate election, instead of "hanging on" to his preferred date of May 1st.

"I suspect when finally we get him out of Downing Street, slivers of his fingernails will be found on the doorknob of Number 10. It is demeaning for him, it is damaging for the country. It is pathetic that he has to come to back-doors agreements with the Irish in order to be able to stay in power," he said.

The Prime Minister said being a minority government would make little difference, and he denied a deal had been struck with the Ulster Unionists to survive last week's BSE vote in the Commons.