Jon Ashworth has told Labour members to “leave the sneers and slurs to our opponents” and unite to fight the Tories.

The shadow Cabinet minister delivered a passionate speech to conference in which he hailed a series of Tory u-turns over the last 12 months and tried to bring Labour together in the battle against tax avoidance, poverty and cuts to public services.

He also told conference it was time to move on from the in-fighting, which has marred the past year, and to focus on fighting rival parties.

Ashworth, who has remained on the frontbench despite the resignation of several other Brownites, provided an upbeat message on the final full day of conference before Jeremy Corbyn’s speech tomorrow.

“When this Conference ends, our responsibility is to scatter across the land speak to people, listen to people and ensure this Party is elected for the people,” Ashworth said.

“And our responsibility is also to unite around a common purpose. And that means remembering our opponents don’t wear red Labour rosettes – our opponents wear blue, green, yellow and purple rosettes. And it’s them we need to focus on.”

Ashworth also returned to Labour’s core attack on the Tories, which has struggled to attract media attention in recent months. He laid into the Government over the chaos surrounding Brexit as well as over the return of grammar schools, which Corbyn has said will form the basis for a national campaign day on Saturday.

As shadow minister without portfolio, Ashworth’s role includes organising Labour campaigns around the country.

“Whatever the rhetoric, the reality of the Tories in government is clear. Slower growth, more cuts, no plan for Brexit, an NHS in crisis, the Climate Change Department scrapped, rising poverty, the return of the 11 plus, fixing constituency boundaries, attacks on trade unions.

“Well they can change the person at the top and appoint a new Cabinet but let’s be clear: it’s still the same old nasty Tory Party and we’ll take them on at every turn.”

Jon Ashworth: Grammar schools deepen social division – join me as Labour ramps its campaign this Saturday