A public dispute has erupted between Meriden and Solihull East MP Saqib Bhatti and prominent Reform UK councillor Samantha Gethen, who alleges she was compelled to depart from a SEND parents meeting at the MP's behest.
Councillor's Account
Councillor Gethen, who secured re-election last week, claims she was ostracized during a gathering of SEND parents organized by the MP. She stated that she attended as a parent of children with special educational needs and disabilities, not as a political figure. The event, held on Monday morning (May 11), was advertised as a SEND support group roundtable with Mr. Bhatti, a shadow minister for education, to discuss proposed reforms. A poster for the event explicitly noted: "The event is open to all including young people."
In a social media statement, Councillor Gethen wrote: "I was asked to leave – not for causing disruption, but because the MP refused to begin the meeting until I left. I attended as a parent of children with SEND. Yes, I am also an elected Reform councillor, but I attended as a mother wanting to discuss support for children and families. Rather than allow the meeting to become uncomfortable for the organisers or other parents attending, I chose to leave out of respect for them and for the significant time and effort that had gone into organising the event."
She added: "Their priorities should always come before any attempt by the local MP to ostracise me because of my political affiliation. It is deeply disappointing a non-political family event was turned into a political issue. Excluding a SEND parent from a conversation about their child’s future is wrong. SEND families deserve to be heard regardless of politics."
MP's Response
After the meeting, Mr. Bhatti posted on social media that it had been a "great session for SEND parents in my constituency." However, a spokesperson for the MP countered Councillor Gethen's version of events, stating that she failed to mention the meeting was exclusively for constituents. "Councillor Gethen’s statement misrepresents the facts and fails to mention she is not one of his constituents. Her presence was intended to be divisive and she has sought to politicise this group of SEND parents," the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also revealed a private conversation between the MP and councillor, during which Mr. Bhatti challenged Councillor Gethen over alleged racism within Reform UK locally. "Mr. Bhatti remains concerned by Reform UK’s SEND policies and rhetoric. Mr. Bhatti will continue to hold SEND workshops for his constituents and will work cross-party as he has always done – but he will not shy away from calling out racism wherever he sees it," the spokesperson added.
Public Reaction
Councillor Gethen's post on X was viewed by nearly 400,000 people online. Among those who commented was deputy leader of Reform UK, Richard Tice MP, who described the situation as "appalling." In response, Mr. Bhatti wrote that Councillor Gethen "was clearly there to cause trouble," adding, "I think I said 'you need to sort the racism in your ranks.'"
