A MAJOR political conference featuring Sir Keir Starmer MP and Michael Gove MP is coming to Bournemouth next week.

The Local Government Association (LGA) will host its annual conference and exhibition at the Bournemouth International Centre between Tuesday, July 4 and Thursday, July 6.

The conference will feature Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who will be speaking on Tuesday afternoon, following levelling up secretary and MP, Michael Gove.

Liberal Democrat leader of BCP Council, Vikki Slade, will welcome the conference to Bournemouth on Tuesday before Lib Dem party leader Ed Davey MP addresses the attendees on Thursday.

Other notable appearances include education secretary Gillian Keegan MP and local government minister Lee Rowley MP.

Throughout the three days, sessions and panel discussions will be held at the BIC Innovation Zone with the theme of 'challenge and change'.

The LGA aims to share practices that local government authorities implement around the country, so delegates can make a ‘tangible, positive’ impact in their own councils and communities.

Chief executive of BCP Council, Graham Farrant, will be leading sessions on how councils can be data-led, and the culture management needed when delivering transformation programmes.

The council will also lead a beach walk and seafront strategy event along the promenade on Wednesday morning.

A discussion on ‘cultural place-making and levelling up’ will be led by council officers Andrew Emery, resort development and strategic planning manager and Andrea Francis, cultural development manager, on Thursday.

Alongside the BIC, other venues around the town centre will host events, including the Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre, the Hilton Hotel, the Highcliffe Marriott Hotel and the Royal Bath Hotel.

The conference will highlight issues such as keeping areas clean and climate issues, to what AI means for local authorities and how councils can best use data.

The conference will begin at 10am on Tuesday and will end at 1.45pm on Thursday.