LONDON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Conservative candidate Boris Johnson could win London elections and become the city's new mayor according to partial results, the Evening Standard reported on Friday.

    Boris Johnson is "so far ahead on first-preference votes he could not be caught by (the incumbent mayor Ken) Livingstone, even after second preferences were taken into account," the London paper said.

London Mayoral Conservative candidate Boris Johnson campaigns in central London April 30, 2008.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The outcome was reported following a catastrophic result for Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his governing Labor Party in local elections across England and Wales on Thursday.

    After what he described as a "bad" and "disappointing" night, the prime minister's party has come third in the share of the national vote.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone drinks a cup of tea in Ken's Cafe in West Ham, while out canvassing for votes ahead of Thursday's Mayoral elections, in London April 30, 2008.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Labor has lost more than 400 seats in local elections across England and Wales -- the Conservatives have gained 300 seats and nine councils.

    Brown said "testing economic circumstances" had not helped Labor but said people should be assured "that the government will steer them through these difficult times," adding that "the test of leadership is not what happens in a period of success but what happens in difficult circumstances."

    David Cameron, the Conservative leader, however, described the result as "vote of positive confidence in the Conservative Party."

    Cameron described the result as "a very big moment" for the Tories, but he said he did not want to win a general election just because Labor was failing," he wanted us to really prove to people that his party can make the changes they want to see.