Boris Johnson remained loyal to David Cameron in his keynote speech at the Conservative Party conference, saying the Prime Minister was doing a "fantastic job" and was sure to lead them to victory in the next election.

The comments come after the Mayor of London received a "rock star's" welcome on his arrival in Birmingham, where he was mobbed by supporters.

During the speech, Mr Johnson made a point of picking out the PM for praise and made reference to comments made by Cameron in which he had described Johnson as a "blonde-haired mop".

Johnson said: "If I am a mop, David Cameron, you are a broom, a broom that is clearing up the mess left by the Labour government, and a fantastic job you are doing."

He continued on with the domestic theme adding: "I congratulate you and your colleagues George Osborne the dustpan, Michael Gove the J-cloth, William Hague the sponge.

"It is the historic function of Conservative governments over the last 100 years to be the household implements on the floor of the house, so effective at clearing up after the Labour binge has got out of control."

Gossip in the bars and corridors of the Birmingham conference has been dominated by the possibility of the Mayor making a bid for Mr Cameron's job.

Rumours have been fueled by polls suggesting that he could give the Tories, currently trailing Labour by around 10 points, a massive boost with voters.