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Theresa May has been accused of plagiarising the West Wing in her keynote speech to Conservative Party Conference.

The Prime Minister is set to address delegates at the party’s annual get-together this morning.

But some lines from the speech, released this morning, sound awfully familiar to fans of Aaron Sorkin’s classic political drama.

They bear a striking similarity to a speech delivered by the fictional President Josiah Bartlet - played by Martin Sheen - in one of the show’s most powerful moments of oratory.

Here’s the section from Mrs May’s speech:

“It is when tested the most that we reach deep within ourselves and find that our capacity to the challenge before us may well be limitless.”

And here’s the speech from the West Wing:

“Every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we’re reminded that that capacity may well be limitless.”

(Image: NBC)

The speech is delivered at the climax of the two-part, Season 4 episode ’20 Hours in America’.

In the show, President Bartlet is delivering a speech in the aftermath of a bombing on a University.

In a section of the speech written by Rob Lowe’s character, Sam Seaborn, in the back of the car on the way to the event, Bartlet pays tribute to students who ran into the burning building to rescue the injured.

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He says: “Three swimmers from the men's team were killed and two others are in critical condition. When, after having heard the explosion from their practice facility, they ran into the fire to help get people out. Ran into the fire.

“The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels tonight. They're our students and our teachers and our parents and our friends.

“The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels, but every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we're reminded that that capacity may well be limitless.

“This is a time for American heroes. We will do what is hard. We will achieve what is great. This is a time for American Heroes and we reach for the stars.”

A senior Downing Street source insisted: "There’s no question of plagiarism.

“But if you’re interested in the PM’s favourite US TV shows, the West Wing isn’t among them.”