Party leaders face the chop at UK election . . . but who will go?
From PM Cameron to UK Independence Party head Farage, May election is a fight for survival
The knives are already being sharpened for the leaders of Britain's political parties, several of whom could see their careers brought to a brutal end if they fail to deliver at the May 7 election.
Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron, his Liberal Democrat deputy, Nick Clegg, the leader of the main opposition Labour party, Ed Miliband, Nigel Farage of the anti-EU UK Independence Party - all run the risk of being kicked out.
"All four are fighting for their political life," said Steven Fielding, professor of political history at Nottingham University.
David Cameron arguably has the most to lose. He became prime minister in 2010 after 13 years of Labour government, but the Conservatives failed to win enough House of Commons seats to govern alone.
The result: a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats that was deeply unpopular with his party.
"If Cameron is not prime minister, he will go," said Simon Hix of the London School of Economics. Tony Travers, affiliated with the same school, added that "the Conservatives are more ruthless than Labour in getting rid of their leaders".
"Cameron, I think, is unpopular - and of course, he hasn't won an election," said Stephen Ingle, emeritus professor of politics at Stirling University.