Tory leadership candidate James Cleverly has urged his party to “be more normal” and take inspiration from US president Ronald Reagan. Making his campaign speech at the annual Conservative Party conference in Birmingham,

With the Tory leadership race down to the final four, Beth’s been at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham to watch the ‘beauty parade’ for herself, while Ruth and Harriet predict who will make it to the final two.

Conservative leadership contender James Cleverly has pledged to end the “Tory psychodrama” and recruit 300 candidates to fight target seats in the next 18 months. The former party chairman has warned his colleagues they do not have a “second to waste” and promises to overhaul the CCHQ headquarters so best possible staff are in place.

Tory leadership candidate James Cleverly has urged his party to “be more normal” and take inspiration from US president Ronald Reagan.

James Cleverly has called on the Conservatives to “be more normal” in his pitch to be the party’s next leader. The former home secretary issued the bizarre plea as he made his pitch to succeed Rishi Sunak at the Tory conference in Birmingham.

As part of his leadership pitch to members, the former minister claimed he was the candidate who is ‘feared the most’ by other party leaders.

The four candidates to take over from Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party are delivering their keynote speeches to members and MPs this morning as the conference concludes. Watch and follow live below.

James Cleverly (pictured) will urge the party to 'sell Conservatism with a smile' as he takes on Kemi Badenoch, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat for the Tory crown.