Jon Ashworth MP took part in the yearly parade celebrating Vaisakhi
|
|
Sunday April 24 2016 |
|
Jon Ashworth participated in the Sikh Parade, or Nagar Kirtan, which commenced at the Guru Nanak Gurdwara on Holy Bones in the City Centre.
Vaisakhi is a well-established harvest festival in the Punjab and was chosen in 1699 by the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, as the occasion on which he transformed the Sikhs into a family of ‘soldier saints’, or Khalsa Panth.
Vaisakhi is the most important festival in the Sikh calendar and celebrates the start of the Khalsa movement, which guides Sikhs in their beliefs and lifestyles.
Jon was also joined in the Parade by Councillor Inderjit Gugnani, Ward Councillor for Knighton.
Jon said: “Once again I am pleased to have been able to take part in this year’s Sikh Parade. It is such a colourful and vibrant event. I was overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of the Sikh community.”
|
|
|
| Vaisakhi also supports the idea of selfless service, or ‘Seva’, and the festival is used as an opportunity by many Sikhs to take part in this. |
| Photo above; Jon and Councillor Gugnani being interviewed by local media. Photo right; Jon, with Councillor Gugnani, in the Parade |
| Click any photo for enlargement |
|
|
|
Jon Ashworth, Labour MP for Leicester South, meets local businesses
|
|
Friday April 22 2016 |
|
Jon Ashworth met with East Midlands Chamber Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire members to discuss their views on the current business environment and any concerns they have.
The Lunch Briefing was organised by the Chamber and was held at Voluntary Action Leicestershire.
The Briefing was attended by various CEOs and Directors of businesses in Leicester including Rock Kitchen Harris Ltd, Go travel Solutions and The Learning Support Centre. The Head of Regional Business Engagement at University of Leicester was also present.
Jon stated: “It was interesting hearing at first-hand about the issues facing local businesses and how they view the economy. As the local MP it is important that I know what the challenges are facing local business and what support is needed.”
|
|
|
“I hope that the briefing results on concrete outcomes that will support local businesses to grow and expand in the future.”
The Lunch Briefing included a roundtable updates with the members sharing their views on the current state of localised operating conditions.
Chris Hobson, the Chamber’s Director of Policy, commented: “We were pleased to welcome representatives from the business community in Leicester South along to the event which was a lively and informative discussion.”
“As well as giving firms the chance to engage with their local MP, these events allow the Chamber to keep abreast of local business issues, which is extremely useful when it comes to determining the lobbying priorities for the campaigning it undertakes on behalf of its members.” |
|
|
|
| Top photo: Jon with the members of East Midlands Chamber, bottom photo: Jon with (left to right) Chris Hobson and Stuart Dawkins |
| Click any photo for enlargement |
|
Jonathan Ashworth MP backs the TUC’s ‘Dying to Work’ campaign to protect terminally ill workers |
|
Monday April 18 2016 |
|
Today Jon hosted a cross-party event in Parliament to support the TUC’s ‘Dying to Work’ campaign. This campaign is seeking to change the law to provide additional employment protection for terminally ill workers.
Dying to Work was set up following the case of Jacci Woodcook, a 58-year-old sales manager from Derbyshire, who was forced out of her job after being diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.
Jon said: “People battling a terminal illness deserve choice and shouldn’t be forced to undergo stressful HR procedures with the risk of losing the positive stimulation and distraction of work.”
“It is shocking to think that if people with terminal illnesses are dismissed, or forced out of their jobs, that their loved ones will lose the death in service payments that the employee has planned for and earned through a life-time of hard work.”
In addition to support from across the political spectrum, the campaign has also been endorsed by a number of trade unions and charities, including Breast Cancer Care and Second Hope.
|
|
|
|
|
Yesterday, Monday 18 April, E.on became the first company to sign the Dying to Work voluntary charter to provide support to their employees at a ceremony in College Green.
Jon commented: “I am proud to back the TUC’s Dying to Work campaign and I will be encouraging businesses in my constituency to sign up to the TUC’s voluntary charter to help ensure that the current law is changed.”
TUC Deputy General Secretary, Paul Nowak, said: “Worrying about your job should be the least of your concerns when you receive a terminal diagnosis. It was fantastic to have this event in Parliament with MPs from all parties being able to show their support and get involved in this campaign to make terminal illness a protected characteristic.”
“Hopefully now more employers will now follow E.on’s lead by signing the Dying to Work Charter and we will see further action in Parliament to deliver this vital employment protection for terminally ill workers.”
|
|
|
|
|
Jon showing support for the TUC campaign,
Dying to Work |
| Click
photo for enlargement |
|
Labour MP for Leicester South, Jon Ashworth, encourages people to take the test for bowel cancer |
|
Friday April 1 2016 |
|
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and Jon Ashworth is supporting a call by leading research charity Bowel Cancer UK, urging more people to take part in bowel cancer screening and help save lives.
New figures reveal that Leicester City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has the lowest uptake rate of less than 45% for bowel cancer screening in the Central Midlands NHS region. In contrast, East Leicestershire and Rutland CCG has an uptake rate of approaching 65% for bowel cancer screening.
Jon said: “I would urge people in Leicester who are sent a bowel screening test to use it. Taking part in bowel cancer screening is the best way to get diagnosed early. If you are over 60, take the test when you receive it in the post. If you are younger, tell the people over 60 in your life to take the test. Early diagnosis really can save lives.”
Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK, affecting both men and women.
|
|
|
|
|
Deborah Alsina, Chief Executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said: “I’d like to thank Jon Ashworth for supporting our campaign during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month to raise participation levels for bowel cancer screening. One in 14 men and one in 19 women will be diagnosed with bowel cancer during their lifetime but it is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early.”
The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme can detect bowel cancer at an early stage in people with no symptoms when it is easier to treat. Since its launch 10 years ago, it has been proven to save lives.
If you are registered with a GP and aged 60-74, you will receive a test in the post every two years. You carry out the simple test at home in private and it comes with step by step instructions. The test looks for hidden blood in your poo, which could be an early sign of bowel cancer.
|
|
|
|
|
| Jon speaking in the House of Commons |
| Click
photo for enlargement |
Visit Bowel Cancer UK’s website to find out how you can get involved in their campaign
for Bowel Cancer
Awareness Month |
| www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk |
| |
|
|
