This paper is based on my Phd research. It attempts to assess the cluster policy making in the West Midlands, one of the peripheral regions in the UK. The analysis reveals a number of the difficulties in applying the vague cluster concept to develop actual policy and therefore to promote regional competitiveness. In particular, the ubiquitous political influences, the complexity of the regional social and economic environment, and the lack of desire of rigorous policy making has made the actual deployment of cluster approach problematic. Studying the experience of the West Midlands therefore offers many lessons for other peripheral regions on how to develop cluster policy for their localities.