Labour leaders welcomed to conference

The conference, which starts on Friday with a welcome dinner at the Hilton Blackpool, sees the party return to the resort for the fifth year in a row.

More than 800 delegates, including a raft of the UK’s most influential politicians including new Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn and deputy, Tom Watson, will attend along with fellow regional leaders and MPs.

An additional 300 young people aged between 18 and 21 will also attend the youth conference.

The main conference and workshop events will be taking place at The Imperial Hotel on North Promenade.

In addition, Mr Corbyn will attend an event at Blackpool’s famous Winter Gardens to address delegates.

The conference is an opportunity for members in the North West to meet each other, discuss policy ideas, plan campaigns and enjoy what Blackpool has to offer.

Coun Gillian Campbell, Blackpool Council’s deputy leader, said she was delighted to welcome the party back to the resort.

She added: “This is the fifth year in a row the North West Labour Party conference has come back to Blackpool.

“We’re very pleased to be welcoming the delegates back to the resort. There’s always a real buzz when we attract big conferences.

“We are always working to promote and strengthen Blackpool’s reputation as a business destination, recently launching the latest conference brochure that showcases the range of quality venues and accommodation we have on offer in resort following its significant regeneration.”

Blackpool South MP and shadow skills minister Gordon Marsden, said: “I’m proud Blackpool has again been given the honour of hosting our North West Regional Conference. Feedback from delegates coming here in recent years has always been good and both myself and our Council colleagues hope members will have a great weekend in Blackpool.”

In recent years Blackpool has seen major investment to regenerate the resort in a bid to attract more conferences, including the transformation of the Promenade,
creation of a new central business district, investment in the Winter Gardens and Blackpool Tower and the creation of new features including new attractions, Illuminasia and the Comedy Carpet.

‘We always receive a warm welcome’

A spokesman for Labour North West said: “We always receive a warm welcome in Blackpool and we are delighted to be returning this year for our first conference with new leader Jeremy Corbyn.

“We have more members than ever before joining us in Blackpool along with a sold out Youth Conference running in parallel, so it promises to be an exciting weekend.”