Prime Minister Theresa May’s

conference speech descended into disarray as she was handed a P45 by a prankster and suffered repeated coughing fits as she lashed out against the SNP bid for Scottish independence.

Theresa May said she “takes comfort” from forcing Scottish nationalism into retreat as her conference speech descended into disarray.

In an address to delegates that was interrupted by a prankster handing the embattled leader a mock P45, she also took the blame for losing the party’s majority in the June vote.

The Prime Minister, who suffered coughing fits throughout the speech, apologised to Tory activists at the Manchester gathering for a sloganheavy election campaign that was “too presidential”.

Mrs May’s grip on the party has weakened since her decision to call a snap general election backfired spectacularly.

The conference has been dominated by the Maidenhead MP’s future, with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson accused of making manoeuvres for the leadership.

But the under-pressure PM said she found solace in pushing back the independence cause, which was the silver lining of a torrid election for the Conservatives.

She lashed out at those who threatened the Union with their “narrow, nationalist agendas that seek to drive us apart”.

“As a proud Unionist, I take comfort that the general election saw the threat of nationalism set back, the case for a second referendum in Scotland denied,” she said.

She paid tribute to the “brilliant result” for the Scottish Tories and praised “superb leader” Ruth Davidson.

The Conservative leader said they did worse than expected across the UK because the national campaign “fell short”.

“It was too scripted, too presidential,” she said. “And it allowed the Labour Party to paint us as the voice of continuity, when the public wanted to hear a message of change. I hold my hands up for that. I take responsibility. I led the campaign and I am sorry.”

Her address was halted when a comedian was able to get close to the PM on stage and wave a P45 form at her, before joking that Boris made him do it.

There was more calamity when letters forming the party’s conference slogan fell down behind her. And Downing Street was later forced to deny that Mrs May’s speech was plagiarised from the US drama The West Wing.

Nicola Sturgeon did not miss an opportunity to stick the boot in.

In reference to her upcoming address in Glasgow next week, the SNP leader tweeted: “Spare a thought for those of us still to deliver our conference speech and now fretting about all the things that could go wrong.”

Earlier, Kirstene Hair, the Angus MP, told activists the Scottish Conservatives would not allow their leader to be taken by the UK party, amid grassroots agitation for Ms Davidson to make a move for Number 10.

“She is here in Scotland to do a job, she is not finished and we are not letting her go,” Ms Hair said.

During her speech, Mrs May vowed to “renew the British dream” by making home ownership more accessible with an extra £2bn for affordable homes, which means more cash for the Scottish housing budget.

She also pledged to bring forward a bill to cap energy price rises.

I take comfort that the general election saw the threat of nationalism set back ... THERESA MAY

Picture: Getty Images. The Prime Minister acknowledges delegates during her difficult speech to the Conservative Party conference in Manchester.