Results tagged “conference” from Birmingham Post - News Blog

The ICC is vastly superior to any of the other conference venues used by the major parties.

I've been here before many times, but only to cover specific events - listening to a speech and heading straight back to the office to file copy.

It's the first time I've spent a whole day at a conference at the ICC, having done the same many times at Bournemouth, Blackpool, Brighton and Manchester for previous party conferences.

The ICC looks modern. It is light and airy, with high ceilings. The facilities for the media are as good as you'd find in any open plan office in a modern business.

Although the conference is packed (when you look like you're winning, more people want to come to your event), the ICC doesn't feel crowded. At the same time, everything you want is within easy reach of a large central foyer. There's no need to wander around getting lost.

And it has some decent bars and restaurants right on site, without forcing people to leave and go through security to get back in.

Leaving Brummie partisanship aside, as someone who attends these conferences for a living, I hope Birmingham becomes a regular choice of venue for all the parties.

I've just been writng about Tory plans for their party conference, in Birmingham next month.

Instead of sticking to the conference venue as usual, they're planning to get out and about with public debates which anyone can take part in. Members of the Shadow Cabinet will also get stuck into a bit of DIY, rennovating community facilities in Edgbaston.

Now word reaches me of plans to raise some extra cash for the project - called We Love Welsh House Farm - with a sponsored relay bicycle ride from London.

The relay part means shadow ministers will take it in turns to do a leg each, but they can hardly be faulted for that. Shadow Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt is the man behind the bike idea.