Tories should consider cutting fuel duty and boosting the minimum wage in a bid to pick up working class votes in the North, including in Scotland, according to a new campaign group.

The suggestions are made in a pamphlet launching the independent Renewal group, as the party gears up for the 2015 general election

The document warns that Conservatives are still performing "indifferently" outside the South East, with around half of parliamentary seats in the Midlands, a third in the North and just one in Scotland.

The picture is even worse in urban areas, while only 16% of non-white voters backed the party in 2010, compared with 68% who supported Labour.

Backbenchers have voiced concerns that the image of David Cameron and George Osborne as "Tory toffs" could hurt the party in 2015.

Renewal founder David Skelton said the Conservatives had to change to win an overall majority.

He said the group would be studying policies such as:

l Increasing the national minimum wage by lowering taxes for employers so that companies would not be forced to cut jobs.

l Cutting the price of petrol by freezing fuel duty and if possible cutting it for the lifetime of this parliament.

l Appointing a Minister for Consumers to clamp down on utility companies, train and mobile phone companies.