Advice from two figures, from the distant and not so distant past, will have brought little post-election comfort to David Cameron.

With Lord Lawson urging departure from the European Union, the former Oxfordshire County Council leader Keith Mitchell posted an open letter to the Prime Minister reflecting on what happened in Mr Cameron’s “own backyard.”

The move from a Tory majority of 30 to a hung council, for want of a single seat, leads Mr Mitchell to make some unfavourable comparisons between the UKIP leader (“a style and a manner of speaking that connects with ordinary mortals ... unafraid to be filmed with a pint of beer and a cigarette in his hand”) and the present occupants of 10 and 11 Downing Street (“You and George, in particular, have been portrayed as public school toffs.

“You have to work out how to be one of us without affectation or silly gimmicks and to speak the language of Joe public.”) But, having led a coalition at County Hall himself, Mr Mitchell’s words for present county council leader, Ian Hudspeth are rather more encouraging — holding out the prospect of getting most business through, perhaps with possible agreement with one or more independents. The next few days will see horse trading aplenty.

Faced with current financial pressures Mr Hudspeth has hardly enjoyed a honeymoon since taking over from Mr Mitchell.

Now as he contemplates heading a minority administration his political stamina and party’s discipline will be tested along with its financial competence, leaving others to hope in vain for an anti-cuts rainbow coalition.