TORY leadership hopeful David Cameron brought his campaign to Bournemouth on Monday night in a bid to prove he's got the "political X-Factor."

The leadership contest was likened to Simon Cowell's television talent show by Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood. And Mr Cameron wasted no time in attempting to win over his audience by promising them "compassionate and consistent Conservatism" capable of winning elections.

The 39-year-old told the Daily Echo: "I don't know if I've got the X-Factor, that's for others to decide. What matters is what needs to change and what needs to be done. I think experience is obviously important but judgement matters even more.

"Making the right judgement is about what our policies should be, what we should say, what our priorities are."

The shadow education secretary is keen to shake off suggestions he's a Tory version of Tony Blair. "I think comparisons between us are ridiculous," he said. "Tony Blair wants to put up taxes, I want to cut them. He likes regional assemblies, I hate them, need I go on?

On policy he said: "I would give greater independence to schools, insist on proper teaching of literacy and give head teachers full control over discipline.

"I would have elected police commissioners to make them accountable to local people and change the rules so we can sack the few bad PCs there are.

"And I would give hospitals real independence from the National Health Service to make sure that there are proper foundation hospitals treating proper NHS patients."

The Eton and Oxford-educated MP doesn't believe his traditional Tory background will prove a problem in wooing the electorate. "What matters is relating to people rather than where you come from," he said.

"If you understand what people's hopes and desires are, that's more important than where they come from."

"I think being a young guy with a young family, it's easy to relate to people."

First published: November 8