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Theresa May’s conference speech was marred by a security breach and an awkward coughing fit when she was interrupted by a heckler who handed her a P45 form.

Well-known prankster Lee Nelson, whose real name is Simon Brodkin, made it to the front of the room and handed the Prime Minister the form - saying Boris Johnson had asked him to give it to her.

The Prime Minister initially blustered on stage as she was handed the piece of paper before the prankster was escorted from the room in handcuffs.

She then quipped she was "just about to talk about someone I'd like to give a P45 to and that's Jeremy Corbyn" - amid laughs and applause from the crowd.

But the Prime Minister was then hit by a coughing fit and left almost unable to talk for much of the remainder of the speech - making for uncomfortable viewing.

As she continued to struggle to speak, she was handed a lozenge by Chancellor Philip Hammond and repeatedly sipped water in an attempt to clear her throat.

She joked about the issue, saying "I hope you noticed the Chancellor gave something away for free" but struggled to regain her previous composure.

Lee Nelson interrupts Tory Conference - In pictures 11 show all Lee Nelson interrupts Tory Conference - In pictures 1/11 Comedian Simon Brodkin, hands Prime Minister Theresa May a 'P45' in character as Lee Nelson during her keynote speech at the Conservative Party Conference Reuters 2/11 The prankster was ushered out of the Tory conference afterwards Reuters 3/11 He gave a thumbs up to senior Tories after what was described as a major security breach Jeremy Selwyn 4/11 The comedian ruffled the Prime Minister's feathers with his prank PA 5/11 The 'P45' form had the words 'neither strong or stable' printed on it PA 6/11 A close-up of Theresa May being handed the form Reuters 7/11 The form that was given to the Prime Minister Jeremy Selwyn 8/11 He addressed senior members of the conservative party. Here the Prankster speaks to Amber Rudd Jeremy Selwyn 9/11 Comedian Simon Brodkin, also known as Lee Nelson is led out of the Conservative Party Conference PA 10/11 He was promptly ejected from the auditorium Jeremy Selwyn 11/11 Simon Bodkin, also known as Lee Nelson being put into a police van after confronting Prime Minister Theresa May during her keynote speech PA 1/11 Comedian Simon Brodkin, hands Prime Minister Theresa May a 'P45' in character as Lee Nelson during her keynote speech at the Conservative Party Conference Reuters 2/11 The prankster was ushered out of the Tory conference afterwards Reuters 3/11 He gave a thumbs up to senior Tories after what was described as a major security breach Jeremy Selwyn 4/11 The comedian ruffled the Prime Minister's feathers with his prank PA 5/11 The 'P45' form had the words 'neither strong or stable' printed on it PA 6/11 A close-up of Theresa May being handed the form Reuters 7/11 The form that was given to the Prime Minister Jeremy Selwyn 8/11 He addressed senior members of the conservative party. Here the Prankster speaks to Amber Rudd Jeremy Selwyn 9/11 Comedian Simon Brodkin, also known as Lee Nelson is led out of the Conservative Party Conference PA 10/11 He was promptly ejected from the auditorium Jeremy Selwyn 11/11 Simon Bodkin, also known as Lee Nelson being put into a police van after confronting Prime Minister Theresa May during her keynote speech PA

Journalist Turcuil Crichton commented that Mrs May had "dried up" after the stunt, writing: "Pm voice croaking, possibly shock of being harassed by protester. She's dried up. Craziest conference speech ever."

The chaotic speech then only got worse for Mrs May when the letters on the backdrop began falling off, leaving her campaign slogan reading "or everyon" rather than "for everyone".

Conservative MP Johnny Mercer expressed anger about the apparent security breach, tweeting: "How does someone get that close the PM, and then stay there?

"She’s the PM. Makes me rather angry."

The incident happened just moments after Mrs May apologised to her party for her performance in the botched campaign for this year's snap election.

She admitted the campaign was "too scripted, too presidential" and said she took responsibility for its shortcomings.

Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin Pranks - In pictures 15 show all Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin Pranks - In pictures 1/15 British comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin holds fake dollars note next to FIFA president Sepp Blatter gestures during a protest at a press conference at the football's world body headquarter's on July 20, 2015 in Zurich AFP/Getty Images 2/15 FIFA president Sepp Blatter looks on with fake dollars note flying around him thrown by a protester during a press conference at the football's world body headquarter's on July 20, 2015 in Zurich Fabrice Coffini/AFP/Getty Images 3/15 Comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin prepares to attack FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter with money during a press conference at the Extraordinary FIFA Executive Committee Meeting at the FIFA headquarters on July 20, 2015 in Zurich, Switzerland Getty Images 4/15 Comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin prepares to attack FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter with money during a press conference at the Extraordinary FIFA Executive Committee Meeting at the FIFA headquarters on July 20, 2015 in Zurich, Switzerland Getty Images 5/15 Comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin is removed as he disrupts the Volkswagen press conference during the n March 1, 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland Getty Images 6/15 Volkswagen Board member Juergen Stackmann looks on as comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin disrupts the Volkswagen press conference during the n March 1, 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland Getty Images 7/15 Volkswagen Board member Juergen Stackmann looks on as comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin disrupts the Volkswagen press conference during the n March 1, 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland Getty Images 8/15 Comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin disrupts the Volkswagen press conference during the Geneva Motor Show 2016 on March 1, 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland Getty Images 9/15 Comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin is taken away by security while holding golf balls stamped with swastika as he protests against Presumptive Republican nominee for US president Donald Trump a he gave a press conference on the 9th tee at his Trump Turnberry Resort on June 24, 2016 in Ayr, Scotland Getty Images 10/15 Volkswagen Board member Juergen Stackmann looks on as comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin disrupts the Volkswagen press conference during the n March 1, 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland Getty Images 11/15 Theresa May is handed a P45 by Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin as she addresses the Conservative Party conference in Manchester Phil Noble/Reuters 12/15 Theresa May is interruopted by Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin as she addresses the Conservative Party conference in Manchester Jeremy Selwyn 13/15 Theresa May is handed a P45 by Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin as she addresses the Conservative Party conference in Manchester Reuters 14/15 Simon Brodkin also known as Lee Nelson, being taken away by security at Luton Airport as the England team lefft for the World Cup 2014 PA 15/15 Comedian Simon Brodkin also known as Lee Nelson, being restrained by an actor playing a policeman (on the left) and a real Community Support Officer after a PR stunt at HMV in Oxford Street gets mixed up, as Lee pretended to steal his DVD from the shop and was chased by an actor and ran out into Oxford St and was caught by a real CSO PA 1/15 British comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin holds fake dollars note next to FIFA president Sepp Blatter gestures during a protest at a press conference at the football's world body headquarter's on July 20, 2015 in Zurich AFP/Getty Images 2/15 FIFA president Sepp Blatter looks on with fake dollars note flying around him thrown by a protester during a press conference at the football's world body headquarter's on July 20, 2015 in Zurich Fabrice Coffini/AFP/Getty Images 3/15 Comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin prepares to attack FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter with money during a press conference at the Extraordinary FIFA Executive Committee Meeting at the FIFA headquarters on July 20, 2015 in Zurich, Switzerland Getty Images 4/15 Comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin prepares to attack FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter with money during a press conference at the Extraordinary FIFA Executive Committee Meeting at the FIFA headquarters on July 20, 2015 in Zurich, Switzerland Getty Images 5/15 Comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin is removed as he disrupts the Volkswagen press conference during the n March 1, 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland Getty Images 6/15 Volkswagen Board member Juergen Stackmann looks on as comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin disrupts the Volkswagen press conference during the n March 1, 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland Getty Images 7/15 Volkswagen Board member Juergen Stackmann looks on as comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin disrupts the Volkswagen press conference during the n March 1, 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland Getty Images 8/15 Comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin disrupts the Volkswagen press conference during the Geneva Motor Show 2016 on March 1, 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland Getty Images 9/15 Comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin is taken away by security while holding golf balls stamped with swastika as he protests against Presumptive Republican nominee for US president Donald Trump a he gave a press conference on the 9th tee at his Trump Turnberry Resort on June 24, 2016 in Ayr, Scotland Getty Images 10/15 Volkswagen Board member Juergen Stackmann looks on as comedian Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin disrupts the Volkswagen press conference during the n March 1, 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland Getty Images 11/15 Theresa May is handed a P45 by Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin as she addresses the Conservative Party conference in Manchester Phil Noble/Reuters 12/15 Theresa May is interruopted by Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin as she addresses the Conservative Party conference in Manchester Jeremy Selwyn 13/15 Theresa May is handed a P45 by Lee Nelson AKA Simon Brodkin as she addresses the Conservative Party conference in Manchester Reuters 14/15 Simon Brodkin also known as Lee Nelson, being taken away by security at Luton Airport as the England team lefft for the World Cup 2014 PA 15/15 Comedian Simon Brodkin also known as Lee Nelson, being restrained by an actor playing a policeman (on the left) and a real Community Support Officer after a PR stunt at HMV in Oxford Street gets mixed up, as Lee pretended to steal his DVD from the shop and was chased by an actor and ran out into Oxford St and was caught by a real CSO PA

Nelson has a track record of pulling off similar stunts. He once threw a pile of dollars at the then Fifa president Sepp Blatter during a press conference.