Jon Ashworth MP spoke to AS Government and Politics Students about his role as an MP on Friday 29 November.

Jon said: “I have visited QE before and I enjoyed going back to this very successful Sixth Form College. It is always good explaining the different roles that a MP has to undertake both in Parliament and in the Constituency, as well as answering questions from the students. I hope the students thought I gave comprehensive answers and hope I maybe even inspired some of them to stand for office in the future.”

The College serves the whole of Leicester and has been rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted since 2008, with students consistently achieving high levels of academic success and progression into higher education or employment.

Speaking ahead of the Christmas Fayre Jon said: “I regularly visit Eyres Monsell and I’m really looking forward to going along to the Fayre on Saturday, meeting local people and taking part in some of the many activities going on.

The Christmas Fayre is just one of the many community activities that takes place in Eyres Monsell throughout the year.”

The Christmas Fayre is organised by the Eyres Monsell Events Committee. There was a range of stalls with gift ideas, a raffle and tombola, with some activities taking part in the Magpie Youth Centre next door. This was where the younger children met Santa in his Grotto to listen to their Christmas wishes.

Sue Green, Chairperson of the Events Committee, said: “The Eyres Monsell Events Committee work hard every year putting on events that help to bring our community closer together. The Christmas event gives us an excuse for light hearted fun with friends and relatives.

Jon Ashworth MP, who is a patron of the St Peter’s Project, visited the Church and met with Ted Cassidy who is Manager of Project.

Jon said: “It was very useful and informative having a guided tour of the Church from Ted, and discussing the plans for redevelopment.”

The Project will refurbish and reorder the Church as well as retaining it as a place of worship. It is also hoped to open up the Church and its community facilities to the wider community.

Jon Ashworth MP took part in a Parliamentary Studies seminar at the Department.

The Parliamentary Studies module is a joint module offered by Parliament and thirteen UK Universities, including the University of Leicester. This module is taught by Dr Richard Whitaker, from the University’s Department of Politics and International Relations.

Jon said: “I hope that this innovative module has increased the understanding among the students of the work of an MP. It was enjoyable speaking about my time as MP for Leicester South, the work required both in Westminster and in my Constituency.”

The module provides students with a detailed knowledge of how the UK Parliament works, in both theory and practice, and considers broader themes and issues such as the structure of Parliament, the legislative process and how to influence bills and what life is like as an MP.

On Sunday 17 November the ‘Gurpurab Clothes Drive 2013’ will take place at Guru Tegh Bahadur Gurdwara.

Speaking before the event, Jon said: “It is fantastic that community groups are coming together again following the tremendous success of the Vaisakhi Food Drive held in April. The Gurpurab Clothes Drive celebrates the Gurpurab, or birth date, of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Jee who was the first Guru of the Sikh faith.”

“I encourage people of all faiths and from all our communities to donate their quality used and new clothing which can then be used by children, women and families in need.”

The ‘Clothes Drive’ is organised by the Leicestershire Sikh Alliance and KAURageous Leicester and will benefit three local charities that work to help children suffering from terminal illness (Rainbows Hospice), women and children who have been left homeless as a result of domestic violence (Action Homeless) and abandoned girls (Unique Home for Girls).

Jon Ashworth, Labour MP for Leicester South, has been successful in his campaign to get the Government to rethink its £3000 visitor visa bond policy proposal.

News was announced yesterday that the Government would abandon this policy.

The visitor visa bond policy, announced in June this year, proposed to charge visitors from high risk countries a £3,000 fee – a ‘bond’ – to qualify for a six month visa. Home Secretary Theresa May identified India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Ghana as ‘high risk’, but failed to explain the criteria behind this categorisation.

Jon said: “When this policy was announced in June this year, I immediately began my campaign against it. Hundreds of concerned people in Leicester signed my petition and attended my public meetings. I have also spoken out against the £3000 visa bond in the House of Commons.”

“All the policy did was damage our relations with these countries; their response to the policy proposal was less than enthusiastic, and David Cameron might as well have put up a sign saying we aren’t open for business.”