Tory conference return is 'vote of confidence' in Blackpool

Conservative Party co-chairman Amanda Milling announced the party will bring its Spring Forum to the resort in 2022 during a visit to the Winter Gardens on Friday (July 10), when she was given a tour of the venue and saw work progressing on the new conference centre.

The Spring Forum is expected to see senior ministers including the Prime Minister back in the town, along with hundreds of delegates and will deliver an estimated £2.4m boost to the economy.

The last time a national party conference was held in Blackpool was in 2007 when the Conservatives gathered for their main October conference.

Ms Milling said: “We have always been keen to come back to Blackpool, and we have two fantastic MPs here who have been pushing me and the party really hard on it.

“I am asked about it all the time, in fact only this week someone was asking me and I had to remain tight-lipped ahead of today’s announcement.

“Having new facilities means we can gather in a fantastic space to hear our keynote speeches, as well as having areas for fringe meetings.

“I certainly hope our commitment to Blackpool with the Spring Forum will encourage others to come to this fantastic seaside town, which is key to our plan to level up the country.”

Ms Milling refused to be drawn on whether the Spring Conference would lead to the party eventually bringing back its main October conference.

But she added the spring gathering was “one of two key events for the Conservative Party”, usually attended by the Prime Minister and members of the cabinet.

Blackpool fell out of favour with the main parties as its conference facilities became outdated and it lost out to rivals including Manchester and Birmingham.

Work began in 2018 on a new £25m conference centre at the Winter Gardens in order to bring back some of that trade, and the development is due to be completed next year.

The cost has been met through £15m from the government’s Growth Deal, £7m from Blackpool Council, and £2.9m from the Coastal Communities Fund, also provided by the government.

Managing director of the Winter Gardens Michael Williams said the announcement reflected a lot of hard work by the town to attract more conference trade.

He said: “It is a vote of confidence in Blackpool and recognises the investment Blackpool Council has made in the Winter Gardens, as well as investment in quality hotels in Blackpool.

“The new conference facilities will link directly to the Empress Ballroom and the Floral Hall, offering a mix of the old and the new.

“New wireless and broadband facilities are also paying dividends because it is vital for delegates to have connectivity.”

Labour has also stopped bringing its main conference to Blackpool, although the resort has hosted the party’s regional North West conference.

Coun Gillian Campbell, cabinet member for tourism and culture on Blackpool Council, welcomed the return of the Conservatives, and said the council would be speaking to Labour as well about bringing its conferences back to the town.

She said: “Conferences are often planned four or five years in advance, but we will be going back to the Labour Party, especially once people can see how the new conference centre will look.”

Blackpool’s two Conservative MPs Paul Maynard and Scott Benton said they would both continue to press their party to return with its October conference in the future.

Mr Benton said: “I have spoken to Amanda every week since being elected, and this is a stepping stone to the main party conference.”

Mr Maynard added: “I have waited 10 years to get the Tories back to Blackpool, and this is great news for all the hotels, cafes, B&Bs and all those who have a stake in the town.”