Conservative Party Chairman Francis Maude announced on Friday the exciting news that the Conservative Party Conference will be held in Birmingham in 2008 and in 2010.

Many of us who have attended political conferences in Blackpool, Brighton and Bournemouth over recent years have argued the vital political need to hold conferences at the heart of the political battleground and in cities that are at the centre of Britain's economic and cultural life.

I've lobbied hard for conference to come to Birmingham over the past two years and attended the first meeting with Marketing Birmingham in CCHQ presenting Birmingham's case. So, I honestly can claim to have been influential in achieving the prize that will be worth £20m to the West Midlands economy over two years. And with key marginal seats like Edgbaston, Wolverhampton South-West, Stourbridge, Solihull, and Redditch all less than half an hour away, bringing thousands of Conservative activists to the West Midlands in 2008 is of huge importance. That David Cameron held the launch of his leadership campaign for Party members and then his first Shadow Cabinet meeting in Birmimgham in 2005 was an indication of a new attitude to Britain beyond the "Westminster village". It is extremely welcome.

Announcing the Birmingham location during a visit to the City, Francis Maude said: "Birmingham is one of the country's great heartland cities, representing a dynamic and cosmopolitan Britain. The decision to stage the Conservative 2008 conference is Birmingham builds on the great success of last year's Spring Forum in Manchester. And together with the creation of Campaign North, it shows that the Conservatives are not just a party of the South."

Birmingham will host a conference that is fresh, exciting, and more dynamic than the English seaside resorts can provide. The ICC is right in the heart of the city next to BrindleyPlace. It has been host to G8 in 1998, the IOC, and the CBI Conferences. The ICC also includes Symphony Hall, home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, of which I am a Board member: www.cbso.co.uk

The whole conference, including the Hyatt Hotel, is linked together in one sealed unit. But this will also be an affordable conference as Broad Street has a range of hotels, including the budget Jury's Inn and City Inn that provide sufficient hotel rooms for those attending. And the nightlife is second to none!

Birmingham has changed so much over the past fifteen years. Its a green, vibrant, dynamic international city that has more Conservative councillors than all the other major British cities put together. 2008 will not be a year to stay at home!

To watch a short video on Birmingham go to:  http://www.mblsystems.co.uk/video/MB_Brilliance_30_sec_high.wmv

The skyline of Birmingham from Edgbaston.