Blackpool welcomes Labour and young farmers
THE Labour Party has chosen to host its 2011 regional conference in Blackpool.
The conference, which will be the biggest regional event the party has held to date attracting around 1,000 delegates, will take place at the Imperial Hotel from November 4-6. A gala dinner will also be held at the Winter Gardens.
Louise Baldock, chair of Labour North West’s Regional Board, said: “We’re delighted to be taking our regional conference to Blackpool.
“Blackpool will provide an excellent venue for senior politicians and Party members to shape Labour’s solutions to the challenges facing the North West.
“We have had many happy conferences in the past in Blackpool and it’s exciting to be coming back with both old friends and a new generation of members.”
Mandy Tythe-McCallum, Business Tourism Manager for visitBlackpool, said: “Blackpool’s efforts to regain its position as one of the UK’s top destinations for political conferences has been handed a welcome boost with this news.
“It’s great that we are back on the political conference map and that our strategy to try and secure both new and lapsed events is starting to have a real impact.”
Blackpool is also to host the annual convention of the Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs at the Winter Gardens from 6-8 May.
Many of the clubs attending from England and Wales use the journey to the event to raise some of the estimated £1million a year generated for charities by the young volunteers. For example Lancashire YFC is cycling from Bridlington to Blackpool, 150 miles in two days, and will be raising money for Lancashire County Federation.
NFYFC events steering group chairwoman Hollie Harris said: “The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs is delighted to be returning to Blackpool for this event which is the highlight of the YFC calendar.
“We have enjoyed working with the venue, businesses and authorities in Blackpool, which always makes us very welcome and works hard to ensure the event is a success.
“And we are really looking forward to seeing the results of the regeneration and refurbishment work in the town and at the venue that had just begun during our last visit in 2009.”
