The Conservatives have begun a fresh attempt to win back support in the inner-cities.

Co-chairman Liam Fox launched the "city seats initiative" in Birmingham on Thursday in a bid to improve campaigning and candidate selection in urban areas.

The last two elections have seen Tory representation all but wiped out in Britain's big cities and the party accused of becoming a right-wing rump based almost exclusively in the South East of England.

But in the run-up to the Conservative conference next month, Fox is arguing that Michael Howard's leadership has put the party back on track across the country.

Accompanied by Tory candidates at Birmingham City Football Club in the second city, he said the need is now to sharpen up the campaigning machine.

The move will also counter Labour and Liberal Democrat criticisms that Howard is shifting to the right to shore up core Conservative support.

Fox claims that the Tories want to compete for every vote in every constituency.

The initiative will focus on teamwork, with six of the Tory Birmingham candidates campaigning together to address common problems.

"It acknowledges the fact that while a person may live in one city constituency, they may well work in another and socialise in another," Fox said.

"Issues affecting the whole city affect them."

In Birmingham all six candidates have been selected together and will not be assigned a particular constituency until nearer the election.

"This is a pioneering campaign initiative which recognises that cities and metropolitan areas need a different approach," Fox said. 

"Campaigning will be based on issues relevant to the people in the city as opposed to individual constituencies. We hope this new approach will further engage people in the political process and act as proof that there are no 'no go' areas for the Conservatives.

"The local elections show that Conservatives are back in the cities. We have a renewed focus on policies for the cities and especially inner city problems. These are high quality candidates with a special commitment to Birmingham and dedication to free it from years of Labour failure and neglect."