A plan to keep David Cameron as Tory leader even if he loses the election to Ed Miliband , is being drawn up by senior allies . Cabinet colleagues , including George Osborne and Michael Gove , will attempt to form a protective ring around Mr Cameron if he falls short in May – provided Mr Miliband does not secure a decisive victory . They believe that continuity at the top will be essential if there is a prospect of a second general election . Senior Tories have hatched a plan to keep David Cameron as Tory leader even if he loses the election to Ed Miliband . Tory high command is even preparing to declare a ‘ moral victory ’ if – as some polls suggest - Mr Cameron secures more votes than Labour but emerges with fewer seats . Mr Cameron will come under intense pressure to step down if he loses to Mr Miliband , who many Tories rate as the worst Labour leader since Michael Foot . The last leader of a major party to cling on after defeat was Neil Kinnock in 1987 . One Tory MP said Mr Cameron ‘ won ’ t last five minutes ’ unless he manages to retain the keys to Downing Street in May . ‘ He either wins , or he goes , ’ the MP said . ‘ He has said himself that if he can ’ t beat Miliband he doesn ’ t deserve to be in this game , and he ’ s right. ’ But some senior ministers believe Mr Cameron should stay on if Mr Miliband is only able to cobble together a fragile coalition . In this scenario , they fear the party could be plunged into a destabilising leadership battle in the run-up to a second election that could take place as early as the autumn . Chancellor George Osborne ( left ) will attempt to form a protective ring around Mr Cameron if he falls short in May – provided Ed Miliband ( right ) does not secure a decisive victor . Mr Osborne is reported to have held talks with Tory whips last week to draw up a ‘ Save Dave ’ strategy for protecting Mr Cameron from an internal challenge , although a source close to the Chancellor insisted the Conservatives were still ‘ playing to win ’ . Current polls suggest that neither Labour nor the Conservatives will secure an outright majority in May – raising the prospect of either another coalition or a period of minority government . Senior Tories are urging Mr Cameron to govern alone if the Conservatives emerge as the largest party but do not have an overall majority . They argue that ditching the Lib Dems would allow the party to govern properly , and free up 23 ministerial jobs to aid party management . One Cameron ally said : ‘ If there is an opportunity to govern without going into coalition , we would seize it . ’
Senior Conservatives plan to keep David Cameron as leader if he loses election . George Osborne and Michael Gove will form a protective ring around him . They believe continuity at top is essential if there is a second election .