But regardless of the outcome of the Heseltine review, Liverpool would have its own dedicated minister.

“We will have city ministers if we form the next Government, I think they work better than regional ministers.

“Maybe we will not have an MP in the city centre, but I am hopeful on the Wirral, in Warrington and Sefton.”

He said many of the constituents of these seats work in Liverpool which would put the city and the area “on the focus map of the [Conservative] Government”.

“The truth is there will be a big change in the overall representation in the Merseyside area.

“We can’t form the next Government without winning seats in Wirral, Warrington and Southport.

“Let me be clear this is a very different Conservative party with a different leader with a very big commitment to Merseyside and Liverpool, and it is going to govern in a different way and it recognises it needs to win consent and support in our cities.”

When asked if he should apologise for the Tories’ record in Liverpool, he said: “I think we’re past that stage.

“I’m more interested in whether we are doing the right thing to represent your views and, on the issue of ports and ratings changes, I think we were.”

When asked about stalled regeneration projects like Liverpool’s Boot estate, he said they were “not going to be left in the state they’re in”.

“Just because we don’t have a Member of Parliament in Liverpool does not mean we don’t want to recover in this area and have good representation and stand up for the area.”

Last night he took part in a question and answer session with voters in the crucial Sefton Central seat.