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LONDON - Hollywood film star turned politician Arnold Schwarzenegger will be the guest of honour at the Conservative Party conference this year, the Tories announced today.
Schwarzenegger, the Republican Governor of California, will deliver a keynote address to the party faithful at the conference due to be held in Blackpool in September.
"I am delighted that Governor Schwarzenegger has accepted my invitation to address our party conference this year," said Conservative leader David Cameron.
"Governor Schwarzenegger led a dramatic revival of his party's fortunes in California and as Governor he has shown tremendous leadership -- above all in pioneering measures to protect the environment, reaching out to political opponents in doing so."
The film star, best known for his "Terminator" films, has been hailed in the past by Cameron's Labour Party counterpart, Prime Minister Tony Blair, who he met last year to discuss environmental issues.
Blair praised Schwarzenegger's "brilliant leadership" after he signed a law to reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions.
The prime minister also joked he felt "acute body envy" after meeting the former star bodybuilder.
- REUTERS
