ED MILIBAND last night thanked Liverpool for staging a hugely successful Labour Party conference.

The Labour leader said the city had been a “wonderful backdrop” for the event.

Businesses and hotels reported an uptake in business as 11,000 delegates descended on the city for the five-day conference.

It is predicted its economic impact was worth more than £15m for the city.

Mr Miliband said: “Liverpool has been a fantastic host city, and I would like to thank all the people and agencies involved in making our conference such a great success.

“Listening to people has always been at the heart of Labour Party conference, and, by holding it in Liverpool, many people have experienced it for the first time.

“The city and its venues have been a fantastic backdrop for a very successful conference.”

Liverpool Council leader Joe Anderson said the boost to city’s reputation due to massive TV and press exposure was immeasurable.

He said: “The sun has certainly shone on Liverpool this week, and I have been overwhelmed with comments from delegates about how fantastic the city looks and how smoothly everything has gone.

“You simply cannot put a price on the stunning pictures of Liverpool’s waterfront which have been broadcast into millions of living rooms around the country over the last week.

“I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard on making the event such a success for Liverpool.

“I am absolutely certain the Labour Party will be returning to the city at some point in the not too distant future.”