The Conservative Party is to hold a conference in Brighton for the first time in more than a decade.

It is hoped next year's spring conference will bring in almost £2 million when as many as 3,000 representatives descend on the city.

It is also the last major political conference before a likely general election and is expected to attract a national media scrum.

Council conference bosses have been wooing the party ever since its last visit to Brighton in 1992.

Party conference organisers met a delegation from the city last week.

Brighton and Hove leaders now hope the Conservatives' autumn conference will also return to the city.

Labour deputy council leader Sue John said: "This is a coup for the city and great news for the local economy.

"Our conference team works hard to get the biggest events available, hence our delight at securing another major political conference.

"Brighton and Hove has seen radical improvements since the Conservatives were last here. We very much hope they'll notice and appreciate the difference from last time."

Tory councillor David Smith said: "I am delighted the Conservatives are coming back to the city.

"Let's give them the welcome they deserve and encourage the party to hold its autumn conference here again on a regular basis. It has taken many years of canvassing by local Conservatives and the council's conference team to get it back."

Conservatives used to visit Brighton every two years, alternating with Blackpool, but this was widened to four years in the Eighties when the Bournemouth International Centre opened. In 1984, five people died and many more were injured when a bomb planted by the IRA destroyed The Grand hotel.

The party returned in 1988 and 1992 but the Brighton bomb left bad memories and by this time the council had become Labour-controlled.

High hotel prices and political welcoming speeches by Labour mayors also put off the party, which has used Bournemouth as its southern conference base ever since.

The Conservative conference will run from March 11 to 13, 2005.

Wednesday June 02, 2004