Conservative Party conference to return to Birmingham
The Conservative Party has announced its annual party conference will take place in the West Midlands in three of the next six years.
The event has been scheduled for the ICC in Birmingham for 2022, 2024 and 2026. This year's conference had been due to take place in the city in October but will now be a virtual event.
Conservative Party Co-Chairman, Amanda Milling, the MP for Cannock Chase, said: "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 for our party conference in 2022."
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, said: "The news that 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."
The location of the conference has alternated between the ICC and Manchester's Central since 2008.
Paul Thandi, CEO of the NEC Group said: "We are pleased to agree a deal with the Conservative Party to bring their 2022, 2024 and 2026 conferences to the venue.
"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."
