London (PTI): British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour party may have received its worst ever drubbing in 40 years in the local elections but the UK media, though talking tough, are in no mood to write him off.

"The PM won't quit - and realistically he wont' be toppled by his party. Nor will he call an election until 2010. Which means he at least has time in his side- and the country's mood has rarely been so changeable. Seven months ago he was 11 per cent ahead in polls. Things look bleak. But he cannot be written off," The Sun, a leading tabloid wrote on Monday.

Brown had on Sunday admitted that mistakes had been made but had rejected suggestions he should resign.

The Daily Telegraph, another major daily, said a disliking for Labour may not neccesarily translate into a prefernce for Tories.

"It is one thing to dislike Labour; another actively to prefer the Tories", the paper said.

"Many people are prepared to support them (Tories) who, until recently would have been loath to do so. Yet the Prime Minister may have a point when he says that voters treat local elections as an unofficial referendum on the government of the day, not a choice between alternatives", the report added.

The largely circulated Daily Mail along with The Evening Standard which literally campaigned for Conservative candidate and now Mayor of London, Boris Johnson against Labour's Ken Livingstone, hinted it was a wake-up call for the Brown as well the Labour party.

"After Labour's worst local election drubbing in 40 years, Brown knows he has to listen and learn", the tabloid said.