Brexit vote having positive impact on the North East

Figures showing a staggering 20,000 drop in the North East unemployment rate, with just 79,000 now out of work, demonstrates that the Brexit vote is already having a positive impact on the region, said UKIP’s local Euro-MP Jonathan Arnott.

The figures represent the fastest fall in the United Kingdom, with the North East having halved the gap between the UK and the national average in just a few months.

“The disconnection between establishment politicians trying to sabotage Brexit and the impact we’re already seeing here is phenomenal,” he said.

“The bottom line is that we have more people in work. I’ve been pointing out for years that the gap between the North East and the rest of the country has been growing, but something big has changed since June.

“We’ve got used to seeing an unemployment rate hovering around 8%, and today’s news puts it at just 6.1%. We’ve seen a string of businesses keen to invest here, and that’s really making a difference.

“Whilst our politicians in Westminster lament the weaker pound, it has been absolutely vital for our beleaguered manufacturing industry in the North East. It’s provided the shot in the arm that our economy so desperately needed. We are a manufacturing region, and Brexit is making our manufacturing more competitive.

“Let’s remember that the Remain campaign predicted immediate economic disaster over the summer. They couldn’t have been more wrong. But I’m yet to hear a single one of our Labour MPs admit that, in fact, the vote has already proved to be fantastic news for the North East.

“We’re seeing winds of change amongst working-class people here; since the Brexit vote there is genuine hope in our communities which have been abandoned and ignored for years by an out-of-touch Labour Party.

“Today’s news means food on the table and money in the bank for local families, a fantastic boost as we get closer to Christmas. Not all of our economic ills can be cured overnight, but this is a massive step in the right direction.”

The drop in the North East was higher than any other region in the country, and accounted for more than half of the total national fall in unemployment.