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.