Jon Ashworth MP was out door knocking and meeting residents in the Regent Road area of the City.

Jon was joined by the three local Castle Ward Councillors as well as other Councillors and activists from across Leicester South.

Jon said: “It is important that Councillors and MPs are out and about all year round and meeting their constituents. Any issues raised today will be taken up by myself and the local Councillors. We are on your side in these tough times.”

Jon Ashworth fasted for the day as part of Ramadan. He completed a day’s fast last year during Ramadan, and repeated the experience this year.

Jon said: “Last year I fasted during Ramadan because I wanted to have a deeper and more spiritual understanding of Islam. It was such a rewarding experience, and that’s why I wanted to fast again this year.”

“Ramadan is such an important time for so many families across Leicester. I wanted to show my support to the local community, but more than that, I wanted to experience Ramadan for myself again.”

Jon started the day early in the morning with Sehri at the home of Mr Gulam Husain, Secretary General of the Masjid Umar Mosque on Evington Drive. He then fasted for the day, breaking his fast with dates and water, Iftar, at Masjid Al Falah on Keythorpe Street.

Jon commented further: “I fasted for the whole day, but like many Muslims I went about my day as usual and worked from my Constituency office.”

“I was really looking forward to the whole experience. Leicester is such a diverse City and we celebrate all major festivals here, so even though I only fasted for one day, I’m still glad that I could take part in Ramadan in my own small way. I knew it’d be tough, and I wrote a blog about it all last year, but this year’s fast reinforced everything that I took away from the experience last year.”

Jon hosted a public meeting at the Shree Mandhata Samaj Sahayak Mandal on Hartington Road.

The session, which was a public meeting open to all, had a ‘Question and Answer’ format and gave residents in Leicester the opportunity to ask questions and discuss numerous issues.

The public meeting mainly focused on two issues: Jon’s charity appeal for the floods that have affected the north Indian State of Uttarakhand, and the Government’s proposed visitor visa bond.

Last month Uttarakhand was hit by the worst monsoon rain the state has seen in over 80 years. Numerous towns and villages have been destroyed by the floods, and over 5,700 people are missing presumed dead. Rescue operations have had difficulty reaching some parts of the State, and several villages are on the verge of starvation.

Jon has launched a charity appeal with the Gujarat Hindu Association of Leicester, calling for help for those struck by the floods in Uttarakhand.

Jon said: “These floods have caused absolute devastation for the people of Uttarakhand. Rescue operations desperately need assistance, and I would urge people to donate in any way they can.”

“People at the meeting were rightly concerned about what’s happening in Uttarakhand, and I’ve set up a JustGiving page where people can donate to Action Aid’s emergency appeal.”

The meeting also looked at the Government’s visitor visa bond proposals.

Last month there were reports that the Government would introduce a pilot scheme forcing visitors from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Ghana to pay a £3,000 bond in order to qualify for a six month visa. Under the scheme, visitors would get their bond money back when they leave the UK and return to their home countries.

Jon Ashworth MP went to Downing Street on Wednesday 17 July to present a petition requesting that Francis Street Post Office in Leicester is re-opened.

In May this year Jon collected the petition from local residents and business-owners in the area. The petition had over 1,100 signatories, all calling for the Francis Street Post Office to be re-opened.

Since the Francis Street Post Office closed in 2008 elderly residents have had to walk to Queens Road for their nearest Post Office.

The issue came to Jon’s attention in January when he contacted the Post Office and was told that the post office could not be re-opened. Jon has then worked with local businesses and residents on a campaign to re-open the Post Office. The petition was organised by a local business-owner, Mr Harish Amlani, who owns a newsagent in the area.

Jon said: “It was really good visiting the Summer Fete and meeting local people. It’s great to see the community coming together again in Eyres Monsell, which is a huge credit to the people of the area.”

The Summer Fete ran from Midday until 4.30pm. There was a wide variety of stalls including a tombola, raffle, books, crafts and ‘Support Our Soldiers’ Campaign, as well as hot food and refreshments available throughout the afternoon.

Jon commented: “I regularly visit Eyres Monsell where there is a brilliant community spirit and togetherness. It’s good to hear that the Events Committee is supported by the local Councillors.”

For the children there was a bouncy castle, a climbing wall, pony rides and ice creams.

Sue Green, Vice Chair of Eyres Monsell Community Association, said: “The Events Committee and I always look forward to the Summer Event. It is just one of the three to four events we organise here in Eyres Monsell each year. It’s a ‘family fun afternoon’ and we hope everyone who came along enjoyed it.”

Jon Ashworth, Labour MP for Leicester South, visited a knitwear factory on Grace Road to support the creation of potentially hundreds of knitwear jobs in Leicester.

The factory is home to Jack Masters, a knitwear manufacturing firm that has been based in Leicester for over 25 years. They supply clothing to retail chains, online retailers and independent shops, as well as exporting to Europe and the United States of America.

Jack Masters is just one of many manufacturing firms in the City that has seen an increase in demand for its products and services.

Basic Premier in partnership with Basic Thinking, also based on Grace Road, are responding to growing High Street demand for UK-made t-shirts, skirts and dresses. They hope to create 150 jobs this year.

BS Attwall, another City knitwear firm, hopes to create 130 jobs this year after buying a 130,000 square foot factory in Leicester. The firm started in 2013 with 30 staff and has already hired 40 people so far this year.

The remaining 90 jobs are hoped to be created by the end of 2013. This is the highest number of jobs created in Leicester’s textile industry since the City lost out to overseas competition in the 1980s and 1990s.

Jon Ashworth attended Rolleston’s Summer Fete and drew out the winning tickets for the raffle.

Jon said: “It was good visiting Rolleston Primary School again. I know it is a school that works well with the local community and I’m delighted that Street Vibe Youth Group, the Police, the Fire Service and the local Gospel Choir were at the Fete.”

The School Fete started at 11am and ran until 2pm. Mickey Mouse and Peppa Pig were playing games and dancing with the children, and the school’s cheerleaders performed at around Midday.

Dwayne Toon, Rolleston’s Headteacher, commented: “This is a great opportunity to get the school, its parents and the community together. Rolleston Primary School is really moving forward and there are lots of exciting changes to ensure the children get the best out of their time here. Rolleston Primary is well and truly back on the map!”