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Blackpool, once the most famous town in British politics, is today back on the political map.
The UK’s premier party conference venue since the 1920s hasn’t staged an autumn conference since 2007.
But now, with a high-profile by-election in Blackpool South, the town’s back in the news and top politicians have been heading to Blackpool again.
Speaking in Blackpool in October 2007, the leader of the opposition goaded a new prime minister who’d become leader of his party unopposed to call a general election.
Sound familiar? But it wasn’t Sir Keir Starmer challenging Rishi Sunak. Then it was David Cameron taunting Gordon Brown, just weeks after he’d succeeded Tony Blair as prime minister.
Blackpool is steeped in political history. To be fair, the Conservatives did hold their 2022 spring conference there, but that’s a much smaller event compared to the big autumn jamborees.
The glorious Winter Gardens, a vast Victorian palace of entertainment, and the famous Imperial Hotel, where prime ministers going back decades stayed, are part of political folklore.
When the top politicians weren’t on stage, showbiz legends including Elton John, David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Morecambe and Wise and Bob Hope performed at the Winter Gardens.
But perhaps the biggest box office star to play Blackpool was in fact a politician. Bill Clinton delivered a powerful speech at the 2002 Labour conference. But that wasn’t all that had delegates talking.
Shortly before 11pm, with his entourage in tow, the former US president left staff at a seafront McDonald’s speechless when he dropped in for a burger and coke, staying for half an hour.
The Imperial still has its iconic No.10 Bar, with photos and mementoes of prime ministers stretching back to Lloyd George, stained glass, chandeliers, wood panelling and club-style leather…
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