Is it a council's role to promote culture? Local government is one long round of Hobson's choices these days and it is easy to see spending on culture as a ‘nice to have'.

But that's not the approach we take in Liverpool. I believe culture does matter. Here, we value and promote our culture and heritage, not just because it makes Liverpool one of the most recognisable and vibrant cities in the UK, but because it helps our bottom line as well.