Sadiq Khan has lavished praise on 'King' Jeremy Corbyn in an ultra-loyal conference speech that was only agreed at the last minute in a major row.

The London mayor said the "King of Glastonbury, King of Grime" was the one person to thank for Labour's poll-defying election result.

Highlighting seats snatched from Tories in Battersea, Enfield Southgate and Croydon Central, Mr Khan said: "He mobilised our movement, he motivated our activists and reached voters we hadn't reached before.

"He became not just the king of Glastonbury but the King of Grime too."

While publicly supportive of Labour's leader, Mr Khan had also repeatedly demanded he make Labour a "big tent" and focus on winning elections.

Jeremy will be happy with that one (
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PA)
There had been a row about whether the speech was given - but it was entirely non-controversial (
Image:
DAILY MIRROR)

Allies of Jeremy Corbyn had tried to block Mr Khan from speaking at the Brighton conference, but were overruled late last week by the bash's Arrangements Committee.

Even then, the slot had just been labelled "city speaker" and delegates argued Mr Khan should give way to mayors from Manchester or Liverpool.

As late as this morning sources close to Mr Khan could not confirm he would definitely speak.

Delegates have been jostling with each other over the order for the conference in Brighton (
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Getty Images Europe)

But in the end the speech heaped praise on Mr Corbyn, as well as emergency service workers everywhere in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire - who members rose to their feet to applaud.

Mr Khan said he was "optimistic" after the June 2017 election that "Labour under Jeremy Corbyn will win the next general election."

He added: "It was inspiring to see millions of people vote for the first time - especially so many young people.

"And it was inspiring to see so many people who used to vote for our party return home to Labour.

"We made huge progress and credit must go to one person - the leader of our party, Jeremy Corbyn."