Jon Ashworth MP helped to wrap and sort presents at Matrix House, Leicester.

The Toys on the Table charity works in the Leicester and Leicestershire area to provide new toys for children of all faiths who might not otherwise receive anything during the holiday season. The charity receives only new gifts from donors, or funds which can be used to purchase new gifts.

Toys on the Table started in the early 1980′s and is now run by a Board of Trustees. It has the support of the Leicester Mercury, BBC Radio Leicester, the Leicester City Council, the Leicestershire County Council, Rotary International District 1070, Sure Start, Home-Start, the Society of Leicestershire & Rutland Golf Captains, ESPO, the Salvation Army, Students and Staff of the University of Leicester and De Montfort University together with a number of other companies, schools, colleges and churches.

Jon, who this year donated a teddy bear for toddlers, said: “Since being elected as the MP for Leicester South I have always got involved with the Toys on the Table charity. Now more than ever there is a need for this amazing campaign.”

Jon visited Eyres Monsell Primary School to present a signed certificate, a framed copy of the Christmas card and a prize to the winner of this year’s competition, Michelle Campbell.

The festive picture by Michelle, who is aged 10, is on the front cover of Jon’s Christmas Card.

Jon said: “Michelle’s winning picture brings to life the joy and happiness of Christmas. Her drawing of all things to do with Christmas is perfect for my card.”

The designs by the three runners up are shown on the back of Jon’s Card. The runners up were Florence Brown, aged 10 from St John the Baptist Primary School, and from Rolleston Primary School Rhyann Elizabeth Adams, Aged 11, and Hayan Omar, Aged 5.

Jon commented: “I want to thank all the children that entered my competition his year. All the pictures were excellent and it was a hard decision to pick a winner. I hope all the staff and children at the schools in my Constituency have a very happy and Merry Christmas.”

Jon Ashworth visited Royal Mail’s Leicester South delivery office to pass on Christmas wishes and encouragement to the postmen and women at their busiest time of year.

Speaking before the visit, Jon said: “I’m looking forward to meeting the dedicated, hard-working Royal Mail postmen and women and to see first-hand just how much effort they put into delivering for people at this time of year.”

“Postmen and women do such an important job at this time of year. I would like to thank them for their efforts and wish them all the best over the busy festive period.”

Joe Smeeth, local Delivery Office Manager, commented: “Christmas is the busiest time of year for Royal Mail. Our people pull out all the stops throughout the year to ensure mail is delivered quickly, but even more so over the busy festive period."

This weekend sees the first “Small Business Saturday” to take place in the UK. It coincides with one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

To mark the occasion, Leicester’s MPs are each getting involved in a variety of events to support local businesses.

This activity kicks off Friday 6th December, when Jon Ashworth MP and Liz Kendall MP will help sell fruit and veg as they shadow market traders on Leicester Market.

Liz Kendall MP said: “Our city has the largest and finest market of its type in Europe, with a history that stretches back over seven hundred years.

“Traders here are getting the backing they need from Labour locally with a £7m Investment Plan for Leicester Market.

”But we need national action if we’re really going to help our fantastic local businesses thrive. This means cutting business rates, freezing energy bills, creating regional business banks to boost lending and developing gold standard vocational qualifications including apprenticeships.

“You can also do your bit by remembering to buy local as we celebrate the huge contribution of Leicester firms on Small Business Saturday”

Leicester MP Jon Ashworth and Deputy City Mayor Rory Palmer have signed up to be funding champions with students from the University of Leicester.

In a special ceremony at the University’s Students’ Union building they pledged to support a National Union of Students’ checklist which calls on the government to “continue to play a key role in funding postgraduate education and ensure that the sector is not neglected in the allocation of public funds”.

The 'Postgraduate Champion' campaign follows an NUS report last year called 'Steps toward a fairer system of postgraduate taught funding', which proposed a government-backed loan scheme for postgraduate students.

Our present system of postgraduate funding means most students have to pay for their courses up front, often borrowing money from family or friends or being put off further study.

Jon Ashworth said: “Postgraduate study is integral to the UK's reputation as a research leader, and a funding model that takes this into account through the broadening of opportunity is essential.

“In addition, in terms of UK industry, postgraduate study produces highly-educated members of the workforce with the high-level skills that are central to the development of our national economy."

Deputy City Mayor Rory Palmer added: “As an integral part of the student community, postgraduates make an important contribution to Leicester. It is postgraduate students undertaking pioneering research and work at our universities which will be crucial in securing future prosperity and competitiveness and ensuring we have the advanced skills needed to take forward the UK economy.

Jon Ashworth today officially opened the Clockwise School Bank at Marriott Primary.

The Clockwise School Bank has been running for three weeks and it is the only School Bank in the City.

Speaking before the event, Jon said: “The School Bank Scheme is a brilliant way for pupils to save regularly as well as helping to develop other skills such as teamwork, participatory learning and budgeting. Such skills will certainly benefit the children later in life.”

The School Bank Scheme is run by pupils from Marriott who take deposits for the School Bank on a Tuesday with pupils being able to withdraw savings on a Friday.

Catherine Stretton, Marriott’s Headteacher, commented: “The School Bank offers our children an early opportunity to learn necessary life skills in relation to financial understanding. The outreach sessions for adults are a great way to support parents who may consider going to unscrupulous lenders who may target our community.”

Jon Ashworth MP pressed the Chancellor today in the House of Commons chamber during the Autumn Statement.

Jon asked Chancellor George Osborne about the rising cost of energy bills, and raised the profile of a case brought to him by one of his constituents.

Mrs Patricia Zachariah, of Leicester South, contacted Jon about her rising British Gas bills. British Gas are increasing her gas bill by 86%, and Mrs Zachariah contacted Jon for his help.

Jon commented: “Mrs Zachariah contacted my office about her rising energy bills. To have her energy bills increase by 86% seems deeply unfair, and I don’t know anyone who could afford to have their gas bill nearly double like that.”

“Quite rightly, she was outraged by this increase, and she contacted my office to see how I could help.”

Jon contacted British Gas about the case, but they insisted on increasing the bill.