Bristol will be run by an "executive mayor" with powers over housing, planning and regeneration under the Tories – if voters back the idea in a referendum.

The mayor would be far more powerful than the existing 11 directly-elected leaders, outside London.

And he or she would abolish the city council's highly-paid chief executive, to enjoy "hands-on power" to hire and fire staff, decide how the council was run and direct spending.

The shake-up will take place if Bristol voters back the idea on a mass 'referendum Day', when compulsory polls will be held in England's 12 biggest cities.

Caroline Spelman, the party's local government spokeswoman, told the Tory conference: "I want power back in the hands of our counties and districts, towns and cities.

"Let's have elected mayors who can hire and fire and really grip spending, without an unelected officer telling them what to do."

The shake-up will require legislation to replace the model of directly-elected mayors introduced by Labour back in 2000.

She said the current model had not been received well in cities like Bristol because they do not have enough powers to really get to grips with Town Hall spending.

Britain's great cities need figure heads who can push them up the European wealth league table, she added.

"It's up to the electors of Bristol to decide if they want a mayor or not," she added.

"One of the main rationales behind the elected mayor system is because sadly, our largest cities have fallen behind in the global competitive stakes – Bristol comes in at 34."