THE i360 will form the backdrop for political discussion and intrigue after it was announced the Labour Party has booked the attraction for their 2017 conference.

The British Airways i360 will host party and fringe events when Jeremy Corbyn's party return to the city for their autumn conference.

The 162 metre tall attraction has been booked for four days in the September at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds.

Although it is unclear which deal the party has selected, the venue's most exclusive package costs £40,000 and includes the use of three event rooms, restaurant and the viewing pod.

The £46.2 million viewing platform can be used to host a reception for up to 1,000 guests or a banquet of around 450 people.

The venue is set to open this summer and its team is taking bookings for corporate receptions, meetings celebrations and weddings for September and beyond.

The booking will see Labour return to the city just two years after their last conference in Brighton held last September during leader Jeremy Corbyn’s first few days in the hot seat.

The main events at the conference in just under two year's time will again be held at the Brighton Centre despite plans for its demolition and replacement by new facilities at Black Rock.

Political conferences are big business for the city with this year’s Labour conference estimated to have brought in £20 million to the local economy.

In September, the Brighton Centre will host the Liberal Democrat conference.

Eleanor Harris, British Airways i360 chief executive, said: "We are delighted to be hosting some of the parties and fringe events during the Labour Party Conference alongside our larger neighbours, including the Brighton Centre, Metropole and Grand.

“The whole city benefits when major party political conferences are in town and Labour brings around 10,000 people to the city who stay in our hotels, spend money in our shops and restaurants, and host events at our venues, and the nation’s media descends sending images out of Brighton and Hove across the country."

The city council’s Labour leader, Warren Morgan, said: "Conference is organised at a national level so locally we are not involved in arrangements or bookings, but it is fantastic that the party has chosen to return to the city yet again, bringing millions of pounds of revenue into Brighton and Hove's hotels, restaurants and venues."