BOLTON Council leader Bob Howarth has a distinctive souvenir from this year's Labour Party conference in Blackpool.

It is a dinner menu which shows the order of speakers -- Bob Howarth, Prime Minister Tony Blair and former American President Bill Clinton.

Cllr Howarth is Chairman of the Manchester Airport group of companies which was the main sponsor of the event in the town's famous Imperial Hotel. "I had the privilege of welcoming everyone," Cllr Howarth said today. Afterwards he made sure he kept his copy of the menu. The airport is owned by Manchester City Council (55 per cent) and the nine other councils in Greater Manchester (five per cent each). Cllr Howarth took over in June as chairman of the Airport group.

"I am enjoying it," he said.

"It is getting very busy."