Brain drain draws support

THE NORTHERN Independence Party has seen new members signing up nationwide, according to Thelma Walker.

She said: “We’ve got members across the country who are joining up, many of whom are Northerners, who have ended up moving away to get employment to get those higher skilled jobs, because there often isn’t that opportunity where they were born.

“We’ve got this drain of young people from places like Hartlepool. That shouldn’t be happening as Northerners are proud of being born in the North, and they should have that opportunity for affordable housing and skilled employment.”