Moving and shaking: business élites, state localism and urban privatism

The first barons were landed gentry. In late Victorian times, they were iron and rail magnates. In the earlier half of this century, they were manufacturers, engineers and shipbuilders. Not any more. Now the regional barons are jacks of all trades, who made it big with a local company or in property, and now dabble in media, sit on the board of the development corporation, and chair the football club ... everybody know the local Mr Big. He is a man - always a man, unfortunately- who more often than not started with nothing and now dominates business life in the area. Often maverick and outspoken, they are the first names that spring to mind when talking about business. They are the movers and shakers (Independent on Sunday 3 January 1993).