NI Conservatives’ co-chair, Trevor Ringland, has welcomed two politicians to their new jobs in Northern Ireland, following reshuffles of front bench positions by both the government and opposition at Westminster.
“I’d like to thank Mike Penning MP, the outgoing minister of state, for his hard work with NI Conservative colleagues and welcome Andrew Robathan MP, who replaces him at the Northern Ireland Office”, Trevor said. “We look forward to continuing to work with the Secretary of State and the new Minister of State, to offer a political alternative to the failing parties at Stormont, focused on creating sustainable jobs by helping to grow the private sector and building a shared future for everyone here.”
“Unfortunately the Labour Party has been happy to abandon the people of Northern Ireland and refuses to stand candidates in elections here. The outgoing Shadow Secretary of State, Vernon Coaker MP, was prepared to criticise a party which is prepared to engage in politics here, without successfully challenging his own leader to change his policy. I wish his successor, Ivan Lewis, more success in offering something tangible to politics in Northern Ireland, by giving voters a centre-left, pro-Union option on the ballot paper. We look forward to debating the issues and showing that the centre-right offers a brighter future for all of our people.”