Portillo champions the “Guggenheim effect”

Former shadow chancellor Michael Portillo has urged Southampton to echo the example of Spain’s Bilbao and build a world class iconic building on the waterfront.

The one-time Tory MP, who described himself as a former future Prime Minister, was the key note speaker at Business Southampton’s annual conference, which saw more than 200 of the city-region’s top decision makers come together to hear the progress being made.

He said Southampton should capitalise on the opportunity presented by Royal Pier and Mayflower Park and highlighted the Guggenheim Museum in the Spanish city, which has “planeloads of people coming to Bilbao just to see one building”.

Leepeckgroup are a founder member of Business Southampton and sponsored the event at which Lee Peck was master of ceremonies. Sally Lynskey, the CEO of Business Southampton said the conference had been the best to date and emphasized the power of presenting a united front in promoting the city.