'Weird' party's hopefuls bicker

Tory leadership race hit by squabbling as study shows public finds them a bit odd.

- LIZZY BUCHAN

THE Tory leadership race descended into squabbling yesterday, as research found the public are starting to view Conservative politicians as "weird".

Allies of former minister Robert Jenrick took a swipe at Kemi Badenoch for taking time off over the summer for a family holiday.

The former Business Secretary hit back at Mr Jenrick's promise to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, accusing him of looking for "easy answers".

She added: "That's how we got in this mess in the first place." Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly also said promising to leave the ECHR was just "soundbites and quick fixes" at his own launch event in Whitehall yesterday.

Mr Jenrick, a former Immigration Minister, said: "The public are aghast at what is happening in the Channel.