BRIGHTON invested millions in improving hotels and building a conference centre. Blackpool did not.

Now the Northern resort is losing the Labour Party Conference after this year because it is not up to standard. Brighton gets it two years in a row in 2000 and 2001. The lesson is obvious for Blackpool but Brighton must not rest on its laurels. The conference centre badly needs updating and more exhibition space is vital. Steps are being taken to provide this but action is needed quickly so that Brighton can compete with other resorts in Britain and abroad. More hotels are needed especially in the budget range and places should be earmarked for two or three of them on the entrances to the town. Although Brighton is a Labour town, it should also be trying to woo back the Tories who have not been there since 1992.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.