Voxpop

It’s quite clear David Cameron never ventures outside Notting Hill. A short cycle-ride would take him to within earshot of the Bow bells, where everyone dresses as pearly kings and queens. A trek up to Lancashire would take him past unintelligible Birmingham and on to Manchester, with all those parka-wearing young men with Beatles haircuts, walking with an ape-like swagger along regenerated streets. Then there’s Blackburn, where everyone has a flat cap, eats pies, is a rag-and-bone man and lives on a cobbled street. Cameron should get out more.
Wayne Hemingway, Founder, Hemingway Design

Anyone beyond Westminster can’t fail to notice changes in the regions. Physical attributes and spirit create regional identities and points of difference. Regions must dig deep to harness and project character through brands. Cameron probably has no experience of the regions and relies on the identities they project – perhaps they haven’t captured what defines them, so he blames the brand, and blame always makes political sense.
Tim Lewis, Director, Small Back Room

On the basis that I have no clue why regional identities would be necessary or valuable things to have, or even to which precise regions they should relate, I am forced to agree with Cameron – clearly, no strong ones exist. And until someone is able to enlighten us on those points, I would recommend that he refrains from trying to create them. How about some useful ideas instead? Cameron will need them soon enough.
Jim Prior, Chief executive, The Partners

Maxine Peake, Johnny Vegas, Pam Ayres, Chris Evans, Danny Boyle, Tess Daly, Alan Carr, Noddy Holder, Mick Channon, Sean Connery, Cilla Black, Alex Turner, Jason Manford, Roy Walker, Sarah Cox, Lily Savage, Jamie Carragher, Ozzy, Max Beesley, Ricky Tomlinson, the Gallaghers, Cheryl Cole, Gerry Adams, Rob Brydon, Melanie Sykes, Vernon Kay, Justin Lee Collins, Jim Broadbent, Dickie Bird, Jane Horrocks, Ruth Jones, Marc Riley, Derek Acorah, Timothy Spall, Ray Winstone, Ricky Tomlinson, Ant & Dec, James Nesbitt, Frank Skinner, Janet Street-Porter, The Proclaimers.
David Simpson, Founder, Music