TORIES 'NEED TO BE MORE NORMAL"

Cleverly says public deserve better in pitch to be leader

- LIZZY BUCHAN and SOPHIE HUSKISSON

TORY leadership hopeful James Cleverly admitted yesterday his party needs to be a bit less odd.

And the ex-Home Secretary told the faithful he was bestplaced to rebuild the party after its worst-ever election loss.

He said: "Let's be enthusiastic, relatable, positive, optimistic... let's be more normal.

"Let's sell the benefits of conservatism with a smile."

It came as he and rivals Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat made pitches ahead of the knockout stages of the leadership fight next week.