On Friday 5 May, Leicester South Labour Party launched his campaign for the General Election in June. Jon’s campaign launch took place at St Phillips Church Hall at 7pm.

The meeting, chaired by Councillor Patrick Kitterick, officially adopted Jonathan Ashworth to stand as the Labour Party candidate for Leicester South for the General Election. Councillor Adam Clarke will be Jon's agent for the Election.

Jon said: “It is an honour to be standing as the Labour Party candidate again in Leicester South. People put their trust in me in 2011 and again in 2015."

Jon Ashworth ran London Marathon for the first time on Sunday 23 April. He completed his run in 4 hours 19 minutes.

Jon was running for NACOA (The National Association for Children of Alcoholics), a children of alcoholic’s charity, and managed to raise over £7,000.

As Jon finished the marathon, he said: “I have just done the London marathon. I want to say thank you to everybody in Leicester, who has given me support and made donations. To everyone who has put on this tremendous event.”

Mick Hermiston has organised a petition for people to sign to object to the changes proposed by Arriva to the 44 bus route. Last month Jon wrote to the Managing Director of Arriva Midlands to demand that Arriva abandon changes to the 44 and 44A bus routes, but has yet to receive a response.

Jon said: “I know Mr Hermiston has put a lot of effort and hard work into his campaign. The 44 bus provides a lifeline to the many residents who live on and just off Pendlebury Drive. I will make sure that the Managing Director of Arriva receives the petition and I will ask Arriva again to reverse its decision to cut the bus along Pendlebury Drive.”

Arriva is due to change the route of the 44 bus from Saturday 22 April 2017, forcing disabled or elderly people to travel unnecessary distance to catch a bus.

The shop was set-up with support from Our Urban Shop funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation via their partnership with the Plunkett Foundation and Locality. It is a partnership with the local community and was launched in response to the growing pressure on the household budgets of Leicester residents and the number of people in poverty.

Jon said: “It was a pleasure to officially launch the Community Shop. I have no doubt that the shop will be a huge help to local people. As well as offering a wide range of household goods, people can also receive free advice and guidance on benefits, money and debt.”

Since last summer Jon has campaigned against the Government’s cuts to the Community Pharmacy budget, and on Friday 7 April visited Yakub Chemist on Hartington Road to hear for himself the effects that the cuts are already having.

The Government imposed a £113m reduction in community pharmacy funding for 2016/17 as compared to 2015/16. As a result, smaller and medium size community pharmacies have lost, on average, £3,000 of income for the next three months and they are facing further cuts in the following quarter.

Jon said: “Despite the protests from MPs on both sides of the House, the Government pushed ahead with a massive funding cut at the back end of 2016. I warned at the time that the cuts could see 60 pharmacies closing in Leicester and now those cuts are beginning to hit community pharmacies in the City.”

The Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and the National Pharmacy Association challenged the Government’s cuts in the High Court. The case was heard last month and the judgment was due to be handed down on Friday 7 April.

Jon commented: “During the High Court challenge private letters to the Prime Minister from Philip Hammond and Jeremy Hunt came to light. These letters from last August warned that pharmacies would have to close because of the cuts to community pharmacies, but despite these warnings in August last year the government pushed ahead with cuts of over £110 million.”

The visit was organised by Mrs Usha Mehta, the President of the Jain Centre, and lead by Dr Ramesh L Mehta, a fundraiser at the Jain Centre.

During the visit the nine-day Navapad Oli, a period of semi-fasting when Jains take only one meal a day of very plain food, was explained and discussed with Jon.

Jon had an opportunity to meet and greet local Jain Community members, learn about the Temple and have an informative tour of the Centre.

Jon said: “It was a pleasure to visit such a beautiful Jain Temple in Leicester. I learned a lot about Jainism, Jains history and culture. I wish all Jains in Leicester to have a peaceful and harmonious festival.”