• About
    • Ethics policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Ownership, funding and corrections
    • Complaints procedure
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
Brighton and Hove News
16 July, 2025
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Brighton and Hove News
No Result
View All Result
Home Brighton

Brighton and Hove MPs call for the return of the party conference

by Frank le Duc
Sunday 25 Sep, 2011 at 9:17PM
A A
0

Two of Brighton and Hove’s three MPs have urged their party to consider the city as a conference venue.

Simon Kirby, the Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown, and Hove MP Mike Weatherley made the joint plea as politicians have been heading off to their annual party conferences.

The pair have written jointly to one of their senior colleagues – Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude – to highlight what Brighton and Hove has to offer.

They hope to encourage the return of the Tory conference for the first time since 1992 – as they gear up to go to Manchester.

Mr Kirby said: “As a vibrant, creative, inclusive and forward thinking city, Brighton’s values seem ideally suited to welcoming the modern Conservative Party.”

Mr Weatherley said: “The Conservative Spring Conference last year, held in Brighton, demonstrated exactly what our great city has to offer delegates from across the country.

“The wealth of excellent bars, restaurants, shops and hotels, as well as attractions such as the Pavilion and the pier, will show Brighton at its best.”

Improvements

As well as championing the city, the MPs also drew attention to the recent improvements to the Brighton Centre.

These include the extensive refurbishment to the main entrance including the exterior space, signage and lighting.

They said that they hoped that the improvements would ensure conferences continued to come to Brighton and Hove, bringing welcome revenue.

Mr Kirby and Mr Weatherley added: “We are always keen to talk Brighton and Hove up and promote our city at any opportunity.

“We are lucky to represent such a fantastic place with so much to offer and will continue to encourage people to come to Brighton and Hove.”

The party won’t be coming back to Brighton next year, though, as it has already booked Birmingham.

For many years the main parties tended to hold their autumn conferences in one of three seaside resorts – Blackpool, Bournemouth or Brighton.

The Tories have chosen Brighton 14 times since the end of the Second World War, coming here in 1947, 1957, 1961, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1988 and 1992.

In 1980 Margaret Thatcher made her famous “U-turn” speech: “You turn if you want to. The lady’s not for turning.”

In October 1984 the IRA bombed the Grand hotel during the Tory conference.

When the Tories came back in 1988 the Labour Mayor of Brighton, Councillor Pat Hawkes, broke with convention, making a party political speech rather than sticking to the traditionally neutral welcome.

Labour held conferences in Brighton as far back as 1929 and 1935. Since the war it has held its autumn conference in the town 21 times, from 1957 until its most recent visit in 2009.

From the opening of the Brighton Centre in the mid 1970s and through the 1980s and 1990s it came almost every other year.

In 1983 Neil Kinnock was elected Labour leader and took a stroll along the beach, only to stumble and take a tumble on the pebbles.

The party held its conference here in 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2009.

This year it went to Birmingham. Next year the venue is Manchester. In 2013 the party has chosen Bournemouth and in 2014 it is due to return to Manchester.

The Liberal Democrats came in 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2007 – and are due back next year.

The Greens held their annual conference in Hove in 2006 and 2009.

When they come to town the main parties and the TUC are credited with giving the local economy a seven-figure boost.

Hotels, bars and restaurants are the main beneficiaries along with shops nearest to the Brighton Centre.

The boost has been mitigated by the cost of security for much of the past few decades.

And the conference “ring of steel” has led some to question the size, nature and distribution of the financial benefits, with critics saying that it deters many from coming to the area.

Few though doubt the value of the accompanying media exposure.

ShareTweetShareSendSendShare

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most read

Plans for £6.9m swimming pool go before council cabinet

Sinkhole appears outside financially troubled Brighton school

How Brighton’s most useful shop keeps helping customers even though it’s closed

Brighton and Hove MPs call for the return of the party conference

Power cut affects thousands of homes and businesses in Brighton

Lifeboat picks up ill-equipped paddleboarders heading for windfarm at dusk

Water company brings in hosepipe ban after dry spring and heatwaves

Boy, 15, seriously injured in sword attack

Burger bar waits to hear if it can trade until 3am

Carpenter used old employer’s uniform to fraudlently buy goods on account

Newsletter

Arts and Culture

  • All
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Food and Drink
An evening of goth sounds with The March Violets

An evening of goth sounds with The March Violets

15 July 2025
Love Supreme Festival 2025 : Day Three with Maxwell and friends

Love Supreme Festival 2025 : Day Three with Maxwell and friends

14 July 2025
Jessica Winter has ‘Got Something Good’ going on

Jessica Winter has ‘Got Something Good’ going on

13 July 2025
Palindrones headline a night of darkwave sounds in Brighton

Palindrones headline a night of darkwave sounds in Brighton

13 July 2025
Load More

Sport

  • All
  • Brighton and Hove Albion
  • Cricket
Plans for £6.9m swimming pool go before council cabinet

Plans for £6.9m swimming pool go before council cabinet

by Sarah Booker-Lewis - local democracy reporter
15 July 2025
31

Plans for a new public swimming pool are due to go before Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet on Thursday...

Sussex Sharks open T20 Blast with a win

Hampshire Hawks thwart Sussex Sharks in Blast

by Alex Smith - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
13 July 2025
0

Hampshire Hawks 171-4 (17.2 overs) Sussex Sharks 167-7 (20 overs) Hampshire Hawks win by six wickets James Vince hit the...

We have an awful lot of work to do, says Sussex coach

Sussex must up their game in T20, says disappointed Farbrace

by Alex Smith - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
11 July 2025
1

Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace said: “It is a hugely disappointing night. We haven’t been consistent in the last three...

Sussex Sharks open T20 Blast with a win

Sussex Sharks flounder against Essex in T20 at Chelmsford

by Alex Smith - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
11 July 2025
0

Essex 148-4 (16.1 overs) Sussex Sharks 145 (18.2 overs) Sussex Sharks lost to Essex by six wickets Michael Pepper’s pyrotechnical...

Load More
September 2011
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
« Aug   Oct »

RSS From Sussex News

  • Suspected fare dodger attacks ticket inspector on train 15 July 2025
  • Man dies in three-car crash 13 July 2025
  • Boy, 15, injured in sword attack 13 July 2025
  • Water company brings in hosepipe ban after dry spring 11 July 2025
  • Police officer spared prison after being caught with child porn 11 July 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy
  • Complaints
  • Ownership, funding and corrections
  • Ethics
  • T&C

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Opinion
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Sport
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Contact

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News