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"Could someone with a West Country accent ever become Prime Minister?"

Jennifer Tracey | 13:35 UK time, Tuesday, 12 May 2009

"It would be really nice if Our New Prime Minister was from Piddletrenthide and greeted the morning press conference with 'all right my luvvies'. I don't think you can really 'spin' in a Dorset accent."
says Leon Yeats, self-described Dorset lad and 'proper straw sucking son of the land'.

The way we talk can point to where we've come from but it can also allow us to make sweeping assumptions about others. Advertisers apparently favour certain accents for voiceovers because they're more trusted.

People in some regions of the country can face prejudice and discrimination just because of the shape of their vowels.

Does this chime with your experience? Have you changed your accent? Comment below, email us or tweet.

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