By SARAH LYALL LONDON - Boris Johnson, the floppy-haired media celebrity and Conservative member of Parliament who transformed himself from a shambling, amusing-aphorism-uttering figure of fun into a plausible political force, was elected mayor of...

David Cameron has made it clear that he sees Boris Johnson's election as Mayor of London as a springboard for Conservative victory in the next general election.

As Mr Johnson's triumph set the seal on a day of spectacular success for Conservatives across England and Wales, a jubilant Mr Cameron said his party was now "ready to step up for Britain".

Mr Cameron, who watched the declaration on a big-screen TV with cheering supporters at Tory HQ, said: "Three years ago, the idea that the Conservatives would win London and build up a 20-point lead across the county would have been literally unthinkable...

"Britain is crying out for real change and it is the Conservative Party - modernised and united - that is winning the battle of ideas.

"We've shown there is an alternative. We must now prove it.

"But I believe that my party - the Conservative Party - is ready to step up for Britain."

The Conservatives' projected 44% share of the national vote from this week's elections would deliver Mr Cameron a comfortable three-figure majority in the Commons if repeated in a general election, injecting real momentum into his drive to unseat Mr Brown.

Source: MSN UK News