THE Liberal Democrats have agreed to hold a party conference in the North-East for the first time.
Its two-day spring conference in 2005 will be held at the multi-million pound Music Centre under construction in Gateshead and designed by top architect, Sir Norman Foster.
The conference will generate more than £250,000 for the local economy, attracting 1,500 delegates and visitors.
Party conferences have sometimes been held in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, but are more traditionally in resorts such as Blackpool, Brighton and Bournemouth.
The bid to party managers was put together by the acting chair of Northern Liberal Democrats, Doreen Huddart, who said: "We are absolutely delighted."
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