Glasgow has been chosen to host the Liberal Democrats’ annual Autumn Party Conference in September 2013.

The five-day conference will take place at the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC) with more than 7,000 delegates expected to attend. The conference will also bring £12m into the local economy, providing a boost to the Scottish city’s hotels, restaurants, shops, bars and other businesses.

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and the SECC have led negotiations with the Party over the past six months to bring the conference to Scotland for the first time in more than a decade. It will be the largest conference held in Glasgow since the 14th Annual Congress of the European Respiratory Society in 2004, which attracted 15,000 delegates.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats and deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg MP, said: I’m delighted that we are taking our Autumn Conference to Glasgow, particularly at such an important time in Scotland’s and the UK’s history. Our party has always led the way in campaigning for devolution, and I hope coming to Glasgow will remind Scots that we are committed to continuing that process and securing their future as part of the UK.”

Scott Taylor, chief executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “With 7,000 delegates, influential political figures and the UK’s media set to descend on the city, an event such as this not only has a huge impact on Glasgow’s national and international profile, it also delivers a significant boost to the local economy.”

Ben Goedegebuure, director of sales at the SECC, added: "Glasgow is fast becoming a natural choice for large meetings and forums and we're delighted to be welcoming such a high profile event to Glasgow. Political forums are superb for venues like ours to host; they are dynamic, versatile and will use every part of the SECC's spaces and services, which means they get the most out of their event both in the venue and in the destination."

Pictured: The SECC Glasgow