Rishi Sunak has been addressing Conservative Party members in a short speech on the first day of the Tory conference in Birmingham. The four contenders to be his successor have spent the day lobbying the attendees, making their case to become the next Leader of the Opposition.

Rishi Sunak has officially made his last ever conference speech as the leader of the Conservative Party. The party’s annual gathering usually has those at the top leading the whole event, but the former PM – who is still leader until November – has taken the almost unprecedented step of not speaking from the main stage at all this year.

Rishi Sunak has urged the Conservative Party to unite behind whoever wins the contest to replace him as leader. In a speech at the party's conference in Birmingham, Sunak said: "We must end the division,

In his final conference speech as leader, Rishi Sunak goes through a list of his "greatest hits" as prime minister and wishes his successor as Tory leader well.

The deeply unusual event was billed as a 'thank you reception' - and will be Rishi Sunak's only appearance at this year's conference - and he had a message for the people battling to replace him

Rishi Sunak's final conference speech was a mixture of sombre, reflective, thankful and optimistic, as members now look to picking his replacement.

The former PM, who led the Conservatives to their worst ever general election result in July, is making a fleeting appearance at the party's conference in Birmingham.