This morning the NI Conservative Association in North Down announced that two UUP officers have joined the party. Dr Mark Brotherston was the North Down Ulster Unionists’ Treasurer and Press Officer and Frank Shivers was its Membership Officer.
North Down Conservative Chairman, Paul Leeman, welcomed them both to the party. “Frank and Mark are both hard working and experienced political activists. They will be important additions to the association here in North Down, as well as to the wider party in Northern Ireland. They join a strong and fast growing team of Conservatives in North Down.”
“The new autonomous NI Conservatives launched only last week, promising centre-right politics with a Northern Irish accent. It’s an early vote of confidence that activists like Mark and Frank want to be part of introducing a fresh approach to issues at council level and at Stormont, as well as offering voters an influential voice at Westminster”.
Frank Shivers said that he was delighted to join a genuinely local party, which is plugged into the mainstream of UK politics. “At council level, we need to bring fresh ideas to the politics of North Down, and the NI Conservatives will also offer voters something different at Stormont. It’s important that we move away from tribal politics and make a difference in day to day issues”.
Mark Brotherston said he was attracted by a local party which is genuinely committed to tangible change, focused on creating jobs and growing the economy. “The NI Conservatives appreciate that enterprise and entrepreneurship are the engines of a successful economy, and a cornerstone of economic regeneration, which is great news for local businesses and the unemployed. Also I support the drive toward a culture of 'shared future' as opposed to the current 'shared out future' which is stifling the economic, cultural and social progress in Northern Ireland. No other party in Northern Ireland is currently pushing that message”.