I hope that the Labour leadership will recognise that 60% of the voters are against their policies of socialism Edward Heath, Conservative leader

Speaking after the final results Mr Wilson admitted he would have liked a bigger majority, and sought reconciliation with the opposition.

"A general election is inevitably divisive because it is a choice between conflicting parties and policies...it is manifestly essential in the wider national interest that Parliament should give a lead to the country."

He went on: "Britain faces, and has for some considerable time been facing, the gravest economic crisis since the war."

The prime minister will make a broadcast to the nation on Monday setting out how his government will deal with the economy.

Conservative leader Edward Heath made a short statement where he warned against Labour being too ambitious.

He said: "I hope that the Labour leadership will recognise that 60% of the voters are against their policies of socialism and...that they will abandon their divisive policies."

Bad news for Liberals

Although the Conservatives dropped 2% of the overall vote, they made gains against Jeremy Thorpe's Liberal party.

There was disappointment for the Liberals who were down a seat from February and down in their share of the total poll, despite having fought an expensive and elaborate campaign.

The October election has contained more women candidates, more Liberals, more Welsh and Scottish nationalists and more National Front candidates than ever before.

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