Latest political developments: Tory leadership candidates deliver keynote speeches at party conference

Shadow Whip appeals to the members for help in rebuilding the team and throws in a “House of Cards” gag.

After brief opening remarks from the party’s interim chairman, Richard Fuller, opposition chief whip Stuart Andrew takes the stage.

He begins by discussing the “horrific scenes” of Iran’s attack on Israel yesterday and says: “We wholeheartedly support Israel’s right to self-defense.

“As His Majesty’s Official Opposition, we will engage constructively and responsibly with the Government at times like this because it is right in the national interest.”

Returning to the leadership race, he refers to the TV series House of Cards and the main character, Chief Francis Urquhart, who “eliminates each candidate one by one until the last one remains.”

“Some of you may think it’s just a coincidence that the schedule placed me here ahead of the leadership candidates.

“You may think so, but I couldn’t comment on it,” he jokes, drawing laughter and applause.

More seriously, Andrew praises the “outstanding” candidates and asks members to “help” the party return to government after its electoral defeat.

He then attacks the Labor government, saying it is not serving the British people but “serving itself” and attacking it for accepting freebies.

“You’d think the son of a toolmaker would be better at putting together his own wardrobe,” he jokes, referring to Sir Keir Starmer, before attacking him for stripping most pensioners of their winter fuel allowance.

Going forward, the Tories must support a new leader – whoever that may be – to get back into office, he says.

“It is extremely important that we unite because the country needs a choice and we must seize this opportunity,” he concludes.