Jonathan Ashworth
Jonathan Michael Graham Ashworth (born 14 October 1978) is a British politician serving as Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions since 2021. A member of the Labour and Co-operative parties, he has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Leicester South since 2011.
Jonathan Ashworth | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2020 | |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | |
| Assumed office 29 November 2021 | |
| Leader | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Reynolds |
| Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care[1] | |
| In office 7 October 2016 – 29 November 2021 | |
| Leader | Jeremy Corbyn Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Diane Abbott |
| Succeeded by | Wes Streeting |
| Shadow Minister without Portfolio | |
| In office 14 September 2015 – 7 October 2016 | |
| Leader | Jeremy Corbyn |
| Preceded by | Jon Trickett |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Gwynne |
| Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office | |
| In office 7 October 2013 – 14 September 2015 | |
| Leader | Ed Miliband |
| Deputy Chairman of the National Executive Committee | |
| In office 11 July 2013 – 7 October 2016 | |
| Leader | Ed Miliband Harriet Harman (Acting) Jeremy Corbyn |
| Preceded by | Tom Watson |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Member of Parliament for Leicester South | |
| Assumed office 5 May 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Peter Soulsby |
| Majority | 22,675 (45.2%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jonathan Michael Graham Ashworth 14 October 1978 Salford, Greater Manchester, England |
| Political party | Labour and Co-operative |
| Spouse(s) | Emilie Oldknow (m. 2010) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Durham University |
| Website | Official website  |
Prior to his election to Parliament, Ashworth worked as an adviser to Gordon Brown and head of party relations for Ed Miliband.[2] He was first elected at a by-election in 2011, following the resignation of his predecessor Peter Soulsby.
In October 2016, Ashworth was appointed Shadow Health Secretary by party leader Jeremy Corbyn, shadowing Jeremy Hunt and later Matt Hancock alongside the Shadow Minister for Social Care Barbara Keeley.[3][4] In April 2020, Ashworth was reappointed to the position by new leader Keir Starmer, gaining the additional shadow portfolio of social care in England. In 2021, Ashworth was appointed Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary and was succeeded by Wes Streeting.