About Jess Asato

I’ve been a party member and activist for over 25 years. I grew up partly in Cavenham, in Suffolk, before we moved to Gorleston in Great Yarmouth just along the coast and was a young carer for my grandmother. We lived on benefits, so I know what it’s like to not have enough money to feed the electricity meter. I was lucky to have support from my wider family and worked hard to become the first in my family to go to university.

I’m proud of what I’ve achieved but am passionate about making sure every child grows up free from the scourge of poverty and in a society which fights to protect children from trauma and support them when they have experienced harm.

I’ve campaigned in the voluntary sector to win new rights for young carers in the Health and Care Bill and am passionate about extending free school meals to all primary school pupils. Previously, I worked in a coalition of campaigners to amend the Domestic Abuse Bill which resulted in children being listed in their own right as victims of domestic abuse.

I’m most proud of helping to convince the Government to introduce England’s first ever domestic abuse code word, Ask for ANI, for victims who need to flee dangerous perpetrators during Covid.

I care strongly about fighting for greater infrastructure investment in East Anglia which, despite representation by many high-profile Conservatives, languishes behind the rest of the country.

I’ve supported campaigns for better rail investment, alongside a Living Wage, and against the closure of Labour’s flagship Sure Start centres. I’ve worked closely with trade unions, particularly Usdaw, championing their campaigns to combat harassment and abuse of shopworkers and to stop racism and discrimination. I worked with local women’s organisations to force a local radio commentator to apologise for his victim-blaming language during the Ched Evans rape case.

I will be a strong voice in Westminster for constituents who have been battered by austerity and the cost-of-living crisis.

You can contact me at jessasato@gmail.com or on 07939 594 634