Ex-MP says stroke 'hit me like a lightning bolt'

Former Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth has described how he suffered a stroke that hit him "like a lightning bolt" on New Year's Day.

The 47-year-old - who represented the Leicester South constituency from 2011 to 2024 - told the BBC he had been totally unaware he had been living with dangerously high blood pressure and that he regretted skipping routine health checks with his GP.

"I never smoked, I do a lot of running and I was training to do a marathon," he said.

"I thought I was healthy and I had no idea I was living with dangerously high blood pressure."

The former shadow health secretary has urged others, particularly men in their 40s and 50s, to get their blood pressure checked.

"I've never smoked, I do a lot of running and I was training to do a marathon," Ashworth said.

"What it shows you is you have to take your blood pressure seriously."

Ashworth added: "I, like many men, thought I was always too busy to go for my NHS check-up.

"I should have done, and it would have probably identified I was living with this dangerously high blood pressure.

"That could have meant I wouldn't have had this stroke, which has left me with ongoing stiffness in my left side and with loss of vision in my left eye."

Speaking of the moment he fell ill, Ashworth said: "It was such a lightning bolt hitting me totally out of the blue.

"I woke up in the early hours of the morning - stiff, with pins and needles all down my left side.

"At first I tried to sleep it off. I eventually rang 111."

An ambulance was sent and took him to the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

As his recovery continues, Ashworth thanked the NHS staff who treated him.

"Goodness knows where I'd be if that service hadn't been there for me on New Year's Day," he said.

Asked if he thought the stress of politics had contributed to his high blood pressure, Ashworth said: "It's a rough old game."

He added: "If you are a man in your 40s or 50s and, even if you think you are healthy, get your blood pressure checked. Go to the chemist, the GP or even go and buy a monitor - they are about £20 or so.

"Get checked. It's a silent killer if you don't."

Ashworth said he would use his experience to press the government to improve stroke care.

"I probably need to take a bit of time to get myself back on my feet but I'm not going to stop fighting for the NHS," he said.

"Someone has a stroke in this country every five minutes. Strokes are hitting younger people as well.

"People have got to deal with their blood pressure, we have got to make sure there is proper access to the procedures in hospitals to help with strokes and we have to do more as a society to help people manage their weight.

"I didn't really have a weight problem, but we know obesity in society is causing more stroke cardiovascular disease and cancer.

"So my message to the government is - support people to lose weight and make sure there are the best stroke services everywhere. It shouldn't be a postcode lottery."

Ashworth said he had spoken to current Health Secretary Wes Streeting to urge the government to do more in preventing and treating strokes.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "We wish Jonathan Ashworth a full and speedy recovery, and are glad the NHS was there for him when he needed it most.

"We're committed to improving stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery for all stroke survivors, including by setting new national standards for how cardiovascular disease care should be delivered across the NHS."

Further asked if he was looking to return to politics, the senior Labour figure - who was an advisor to former prime minister Gordon Brown - said: "We'll see where we are at the next election."

However, he confirmed he would not stand again in Leicester South.

According to the Stroke Association, people should use the FAST method to identify the condition.

• Face weakness: Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
• Arm weakness: Can the person raise both arms fully and keep them there?
• Speech problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say? Is their speech slurred?
• Time to call 999 if you see any one of these signs

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