Mr Hope is a fervent believer that a combination of hi-tech and the creative industries is Britain's best hope for growth - and he should know.

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But the most poignant fact to emerge from this survey of 13 countries is that two years of New Labour's attempts to project a more modern, dynamic, creative image of Britain have not yet made much impact.

ECONOMIST: Rebranding Britain: Compellingly dull | The

Britain is leading in creative industries.

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You know to welcome those who are creative, to help small businesses, and for Britain to be strong in Europe and abroad.

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Now my vision for the future of Britain is as the digital, low carbon, biotechnology, education, creative industry leader of the world.

BBC: Take your politics too seriously

More than that, fashion is just the sort of thing Britain is supposed to be good at in this post-industrial age: creative, high-value-added, cluster-based.

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But there is a counter argument, an argument that says Margaret Thatcher was the instigator of Britain's recent artistic golden age of flourishing museums, packed playhouses and general creative confidence.

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