Leaders Under Pressure As Final Results Disappoint

"We had a meeting last week which was positive. We will have another meeting on Wednesday next week. It is very clear what my situation is... I have four years remaining on my contract and I have made a strong commitment... I am really pleased to have been here for a long time and hopefully I can stay here if the conditions are right."

You might not have guessed it, but these comments were actually made by Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, after his side drew 0-0 with Hull City today. Yet they seem to draw remarkable parallels between himself and David Cameron.

Both men have been in charge of their club, or in Cameron's case, party, since 2005. They have had some notable successes, and in 2009 threatened to upset the hierarchy. But now, after some unfortunate wobbles and disappointing results, both Benitez and Cameron find themselves under ridiculous amounts of pressure. They must try and soothe their respective fanbases, and must look to do deals with other parties, or they will be far too weak to lead the field.

Footbal analogies should never be overdone: but the mere fact that there has been more decisive activity on the pitch this weekend is surely a telling sign. On the one hand, sources say that the talks are "positive"; on the other hand, Clegg is still very much in contact with Gordon Brown. Certainly, the talks will not collapse overnight: but the longer they go on, the more anxious the markets will get. Cameron has, at best, two weeks to convince the Liberal Democrats that it is worth their while. That will mean giving them several positions in the cabinet, and at the same time, persuading his party into making short-term concessions in order to avoid long-term defeat.

Unfortunately, some Tory supporters are finding it difficult to contain their anger. Steve Hilton and Andy Coulson, the Conservatives' director of strategy and communications chief respectively, are likely to come under fire for their inability to fully convince the electorate, according to the Guardian. They have been a key part of Cameron's team, as have George Osborne, Michael Gove, Theresa May and Eric Pickles: but unless Cameron can placate his party, he may find his inner circle quickly squashed, which could leave him somewhat isolated.

The situation has not worsened for the Tories, and the decision to have William Hague at the centre of the talks is evidently helping more than it is hindering: if anyone has deserved a stint in office, it is probably him. But it has been over three days since the polling stations closed, and by the time a deal is made, it will probably be closer to five.

For Conservative supporters who expected their man to be in Number 10 on Friday, the wait is becoming more and more frustrating. If Cameron cannot win round his MPs - and win them round he must - then the talks will break down.

And Brown will be waiting.

The Evening Stanners