Theresa May apologises as conference speech interrupted when she loses her voice after several minutes of coughing

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/theresa-may-speech-live-coughing-lost-voice-apology-philip-hammond-cough-sweet-conservative-party-a7982501.html

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Theresa May's conference speech teetered on the brink of disaster, as she repeatedly spluttered and coughed and lost her voice - forcing her to apologise.

For many agonising minutes, the Prime Minister rasped and reached for her glass of water as she desperately tried to revive her voice in front of a live TV audience of many millions.

She received a standing ovation and cheers from the Tory faithful, which did it best to help her recover and get her speech back on track.

And - after Philip Hammond appeared to hand her a cough sweet - Ms May quipped: "I hope you noticed that conference - the Chancellor giving something way for free."

Nevertheless, the embarrassing episode - echoing Iain Duncan Smith's notorious "frog in throat" problems - is certain to increase speculation that the Prime Minister's job is under threat.

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