Jonathan Ashworth joins Labour Together as new Chief Executive

Labour Together is delighted to announce that former Labour MP and shadow cabinet minister, Jonathan Ashworth, has been appointed Chief Executive.

Ashworth was previously the MP for Leicester South for 13 years, and held multiple roles in Labour’s shadow cabinet, including shadow paymaster general, shadow work and pensions secretary, and shadow health secretary. He worked at the heart of Labour's 2024 election campaign and was also a senior adviser during the Blair and Brown governments. 

Labour Together, which has been instrumental in supporting Keir Starmer’s political project, will remain a close strategic partner to the Labour Party. Ashworth has agreed to lead the organisation into its next phase as it adapts its work to support Labour in government.

Labour Together has also announced its first major post-election project will be a comprehensive review of the election. It will analyse how and why people voted in the General Election, and set out what this means for how Labour governs, its policies and its strategy to win re-election and govern for a decade of national renewal. Further details on the review panel and scope will be published during the summer.

Ashworth succeeds former Labour Together Director Josh Simons, who was elected as the Labour MP for Makerfield last week. Simons will be joined in the House of Commons by four others from Labour Together: pollster Chris Curtis (Milton Keynes North), economist Miatta Fahnbulleh (Peckham), foreign policy expert Hamish Falconer (Lincoln), and policy expert Gordon McKee (Glasgow South).

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Ashworth said: 

"I am delighted to be joining Labour Together. Over the last decade, Labour Together has played a vital role in advancing progressive politics and helping Labour to return to power. With Labour now in government, Labour Together will continue to generate the bold ideas needed for Labour to transform Britain for the better and win a second term. I can't wait to get started."

Welcoming Mr Ashworth, a Labour Together spokesperson said: 

"It's great to welcome Jonathan Ashworth to Labour Together as our new Chief Executive. After more than two decades working at the highest levels of the Labour Party, Jonathan brings unparalleled insight, relationships and political experience to Labour Together. Everyone at Labour Together is delighted to be working with him."