General election 2010: The party leaders' body language is a giveaway

These are troubled times for all three party leaders and it's increasingly evident in their body language. When the votes started to come in it became clear that none of the parties had achieved what they wanted. Under the circumstances, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg were all trying to sound upbeat, but their bodies kept leaking their true feelings, revealing things about them that they'd rather the media and the electorate didn't know. Brown's acceptance speech in Kirkcaldy was measured, sentimental and forward-looking – what the occasion called for – but that didn't stop him from producing several characteristic signs of anxiety, like dropping his jaw, and fiddling with his notes. He also reverted to his habit of pursing his lips at the end of his utterances, showing that he was trying to bring some finality to what he was saying. Throughout the campaign Cameron has also tried to project an image of a political leader who's got things under control, including his own behaviour. But if you observed him closely over the past few days you'll have spotted some of his signature signs of distress – like licking his lips and frowning, and his tendency to overheat. That is one of the reasons why, like Tony Blair, he likes to remove his jacket in public. Clegg, on the other hand, has his own problems, not least his failed romance with large swathes of the electorate. As the results were declared he looked more and more like a man who'd been jilted. After smothering him with affection, large numbers of voters had abandoned him at the altar and slunk off to join their former partners. This must have left Clegg feeling cheated and perplexed, even insecure. In fact, if you watched him closely when he alighted from the train and was walking down the platform, you'd have noticed that he repeatedly kept looking down at the ground – not because he was trying to avert his gaze from those around him, but because he was worried, metaphorically, about falling flat on his face. Clegg continues to be under a lot of pressure because whomever he decides to strike a deal with, he's going to come in for a lot of criticism. Naturally, he's trying to put a brave face on it, but he too has been showing signs of distress. During his acceptance speech his mouth was dry – a classic sign of anxiety. He also kept raising his eyebrows, suggesting that he was trying to appease his audience. If that wasn't enough, he's also taken to frowning and licking his lips – tiny symptoms of concern that also blight Cameron. These are fraught times for our political leaders. They're trying to appear composed and prime ministerial, but their true feelings keep seeping out. When it comes to their body language, they may run, but they cannot hide.