Brighton and Hove's Conservatives have invited leaders of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community to a party.

It will be staged at Pool nightclub in the centre of Brighton on April 18.

Several top Tories will attend, including MP John Bercow, a senior member of the shadow cabinet, who has said the Conservatives could be the first party to have an openly gay prime minister.

In a recent speech to students in Brighton, he called for British people to be more like Americans in judging people by their ability, not class, sexuality or race.

Also attending will be former London mayoral candidate Steve Norris.

He has argued for a more inclusive approach by the Conservatives for years and already met several gay leaders from the city.

Alan Duncan, the shadow foreign office minister who met representatives of the Gay Business Association when he was last in Brighton and Hove, will also be there.

So will Edwina Currie-Brown, the former health minister who championed an equal age of consent in Parliament.

Now a journalist and author, she has maintained her support for equality legislation.

Local party figures will include David Gold, the former Conservative parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion, and Brighton and Hove City Council's Tory group leader Brian Oxley.

The event is free but there will be a cash bar and a raffle with a percentage of the profits going to a local charity.

Mr Gold said: "This is a first for Brighton and Hove. For years, the importance of these communities has been overlooked.

"If the Conservative Party has made mistakes in the past and not shown the community the respect it deserved, I hope the work we have been doing in the past two years has demonstrated we mean to change that.

"This event is the latest initiative we are undertaking to get to grips with the issues concerning these communities. There will be no lectures, no patronising, no pressure.

"This is not an event for signed-up Conservative members and not for anyone who doesn't share the vision of a diverse but inclusive society.

"It is our way of saying, loudly and proudly, that everyone is welcome in the Conservative Party and we are working for all people in this city, not just the few."

The event is open to everyone but for security reasons there will be a guest list.

All those planning to attend must register with event co-ordinator Ed Faulkne on 07957 607153, or 01273 571199.