Birmingham is not on trial, Mr Cameron. You are.
Aren't we lucky? The Tories are in Brum.
It appears that we have arrived on the political stage, able to hold our collective head high with the mighty conference towns of Blackpool and Bournemouth, two destinations that people respectively go to for binge-drinking and to die.
But a word of caution: Tory leader David Cameron says Birmingham is on trial as a conference destination. If we foul it up, he's naffing 'orf back to the seaside.
Am I not alone in finding this deeply insulting?
When it comes to conferences, Birmingham is unrivalled in the UK. It's why they built the INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE here. (Note to Cameron aides: the clue is in the title - the ICC, that's the place the Tory gig is being staged at - is a centre for conventions - which are big talking shops, like party conferences - and the place is "international" in scope - unlike Blackpool, or Bournemouth, which are as outward looking as the dearly departed Bernard Manning.)
Is it that we don't have enough amusement arcades and penny slots for Mr Cameron? Is it the lack of Kiss Me Quick hats and donkey rides?
The council was kind enough to arrange for a beach to be built in the city centre during the summer, so if David fancies getting into this Boden bathers and catching a few rays this would be the ideal spot. Birmingham even gets seagulls sometimes and we've got fish and chip shops. You can also get posh fish in Birmingham, like winkles.
I don't want to be unkind, still less dissuade the Tories from visiting our city in the future.
But I do know that we can do without patronising sneers from the leader of the Opposition. If Birmingham isn't good enough for you, David, then the loss is entirely yours.
And here's a gentle reminder to the Tories from the taxpaying voters of Birmingham - it is you, not our city, that is on trial. And in any case, you're damn lucky to be invited.
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Is he having a laugh. Birmingham is the most visited conference destination in the UK, and one of the best in Europe.
The ICC, is said to be the second best convention centre in the world (see Joanna's article http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/news/tm_headline=manchester-wants-birmingham-s-conferences%26method=full%26objectid=20293206%26siteid=50002-name_page.html ), quote "In November, Conference & Incentive Travel named The ICC as the second-most desirable conference destination in the world, ahead of Dubai and Athens."
Very interesting post Richard - I certainly agree with the sentiment about the nature of Cameron's comments.
But I wonder whether Birmingham has brought that sort of attitude upon itself?
Each time we have a big event the city seems to tell the media et al that we have finally 'arrived' on the international stage, which simply understates all the previous achievements.
The G8 Summit was great of course, but if you read the PR hype at the time it was as if the European Summit and NATO conference had never happened. Don't forget the ICC opened with a meeting of the International Olympic Committee - and that was a pretty impressive debut. When we had the World Athletics in Birmingham, there seemed to be scant mention of the World gymnastics, figure skating, badminton and all the other great sporting events the city had already hosted.
We need more comments like yours, instead of the self-deprecating "please accept us now" attitude.
Yes the party conference is important (especially with the potential to influence entrenched attitudes of London-based media), but we should be using the opportunity to remind them of all the great things that have already happened here.
If I was writing a welcome speech, I think I might have mentioned G8, NATO, the European Summit and IOC ahead of being voted European city of the future 2005.
I don't think that is a fair reflection of David's comments. The Party Conference is returning to Birmingham in 2010.
@Mike Flowers: they may be returning - but will it be with, or without, Mr C?
David Cameron has an opinion and it should be treated as that, not a political statement.
He could be missing his family and friends in London. Mind you, it could be interpreted as a politcal statement as he is the leader of the Conservative party after all.