Gavin hits out at backstabbing politicians 'driven by ego'

In a rare move for a Government Chief Whip, the South Staffordshire MP addressed delegates in the main hall before Theresa May took the stage.

And the opening part of Mr Williamson's speech was greeted with nervous laughter as he appeared to refer to Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson's ambitions to become Prime Minister - before landing a punchline that brought the house down.

"You've probably heard a lot about politicians in Westminster," he said, adopting the steely gaze of the world's most famous fictional whip Francis Urquhart.

"Driven by ego, climbing up the greasy pole as fast as they can.

"Not afraid to stab someone in the back. Sometimes the front...just to get what they want.

"In the Whips office we deal with these issues on a pretty regular basis.

"But it never fails to astound me the levels of people's ambitions to get their hands on the prize.

"It can lead to delusions of grandeur. We've seen someone who fancies themselves as a serious player...use the media in a bid to gather support in their bid to be Prime Minister.

"But conference, I am sure that you will agree with me...we can never let Vince Cable into Number 10."

Mr Johnson, who has flatly denied he is plotting a leadership bid, is facing calls for him to be sacked over his comments on Libya.

In his speech, Mr Williamson also delivered a rallying cry for the Tories, saying that while the ideological battles of the 1970s and 1980s had been won, the party now needed to win 'the argument of today'.

"We can never again assume that the case for Conservatism has been made," he said. "It is not the time to be timid or shy about our beliefs.

"We cannot be cowed by the aggression of the left. Let us have the battle of ideas, prove that we are up for the fight...to make the case for Conservatism and bring a new generation of supporters to our party."

Attacking Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party, he said: "They promise us a kinder, gentler politics, but abuse those who dare to disagree.

"They promise to protect NHS funding, but cut health spending in Labour controlled Wales.

"They promise to clampdown on tax avoidance, but block measures designed to do just that.

"But exposing this hypocrisy is only half the battle. We owe it to each generation to make sure that we are relevant to their lives.

"I say to those struggling to get on. We are on your side, no matter where you live or who you are, the Conservative Party is your party.

"Back us and we will deliver a country where your hopes and aspirations are made real.

"But we can only do that if we are in government and passing legislation."

Mr Williamson also drew laughter from delegates with a tongue-in-cheek appraisal of the role of the chief whip.

"The role of cheif whip rarely attracts attention outside of Parliament," he said. "On the odd occasion it does it's usually as a caricature.

"The peddling of secrets. Dark arts. The odd inducement...or even threat.

"But conference, please rest assured...some of this is fiction.

"You have to understand our colleagues ambitions, their problems. As we always say in the whips office, we really are here to help. We take a carrot and stick approach.

"Personally I don't much like the stick, but it is amazing what can be achieved with a sharpened carrot."