The former Conservative shadow cabinet minister has called for Britain to adopt the US approach to multi-culturalism.

Andrew Lansley, in an interview with ePolitix.com said the UK should be more like the US where people continue to have their cultural identity and still be American. He argued this was better than indulging in a "very curious debate" in the UK where people have to give up their cultural identity to embrace Britishness. He also called for positive action to tackle the cultural problem of racism.

He said his own party should be actively recruiting election candidates from ethnic minorities who have the right abilities rather than simply considering anyone who came forward.

Lansley said policy had to be "not simply having the idea that if people put themselves forward from ethnic minorities then we will be prepared to consider them, but going out and making sure that we are head-hunting for people who have the right attitudes, who have respect and command authority inside ethnic minorities so that we can bring them forward into election positions."

The South Cambridgeshire MP said the Tories must gain an electoral appeal in cities. He argued that one of the best ways to do this would be for "conservative" Tory councillors to embrace the idea of city mayors where they could persuade Conservative-minded, talented people, who are normally turned off by local politics, to stand for mayor.

"I am a great fan of Conservatives in local government, but all councillors are relatively conservative with a small 'C' and there is considerable antipathy to the idea of elected mayors. There is a good argument in my view for us to embrace the concept of elected mayors; and in the process, I think we, the Conservative Party, may well be able to bring forward people from amongst our ranks or those who are Conservative-inclined but haven't previously identified themselves as Conservatives, to take on some of those responsibilities," he said.

"City mayors may well enable the Conservative Party to change the perception, the image of the Conservative Party in some of those cities, radically and quickly, because by their very nature, mayors could become the flag holders for Conservatives in those cities."