Tories sign up for three more city conferences

THE Conservative Party has signed up to hold three party conferences in Birmingham over five years.

The party said its annual conferences in 2022, 2024 and 2026 would take place at the International Convention Centre in Broad Street.

In a major boost to the visitor economy, the event will see thousands of politicians, delegates and party members attend the main conference and fringe events.

The 2020 Conservative Party conference was due to be held in

Birmingham in October but was cancelled due to coronavirus so will be a virtual event instead. Party co-chairwoman Amanda Milling MP said: “I’m delighted to announce that we’ll be holding three future conferences in Birmingham.

“Birmingham is key to our plan to level up the entire country and we look forward to our making our relationship with the city stronger than ever.

“Naturally, this announcement is tinged with the disappointment that we can’t hold our full annual conference in the city this year.

“We will continue to work with our partners and look to hold some elements of the traditional party conference nearer the time. But we will return in 2022.”

Andy Street, the West Midlands’ Conservative mayor, added: “The news the party is committing to more main conferences in Birmingham is a clear vote of confidence in the city and the wider region’s future.

“These events will help ensure the West Midlands continues to be centre stage in national political life while also supporting jobs and bringing millions of pounds into the local economy.

“The conferences will also be a great opportunity to showcase the renewal of our region, including the flagship regeneration projects in the city centre and the brand-new Metro extension serving the conference centre.”

Paul Thandi, chief executive of the NEC Group, which owns the ICC, said: “We are pleased to agree a deal with the Conservative Party to bring its 2022, 2024 and 2026 conferences to the venue in the future.

“We have had the pleasure of hosting the Conservative Party Conference for six years, which has had great economic impacts for Birmingham, and look forward to welcoming the event’s return in 2022.”