A newly elected councillor and mother of Send (Special educational needs and disabilities) children has claimed she was forced to leave a community support group meeting by the Tory MP organiser because of her position as a Reform member.
Samantha Gethen, who was elected as the representative for Fordbridge on May 8, claims the Meriden and Solihull East MP Saqib Bhatti refused to commence the meeting until she departed.
Mr Bhatti hosted the Send Roundtable on Monday, in collaboration with the North Solihull Additional Needs Support Group, as “an opportunity for constituents to discuss and share their concerns relating to SEND”.
Ms Gethen insists here removal was “not for causing disruption”, but rather because Mr Bhatti condemns her political stance.
In a statement posted on X, she wrote: “I attend North Solihull’s SEND support group as a parent of children with SEND.
“Yes, I am also an elected Reform councillor – but today 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 for local SEND families.
“Their priorities should always come before any attempt by the local MP to ostracise me because of my political affiliation.”
Samantha Gethen was elected as the representative for Fordbridge on May 8
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She noted how “deeply disappointing” she was to see a non-political family event 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”, Ms Gethen added.
The MP, who is also shadow minister for education, has hit back at the councillors claims, saying the facts have been “misrepresented”, and failed to mention the meeting was for constituents only.
Rebuking the claims against his actions, a spokesman for Saqib Bhatti MP insisted the meeting was intended for constituents only, and that her dismissal was primarily on these grounds.
However, the spokesman added: “Her presence was intended to be divisive, and she has sought to politicise this group of SEND parents.
“Mr Bhatti remains concerned by Reform UK’s SEND policies and rhetoric.”
The MP’s condemnation of Ms Gethen comes following a private conversation between the pair, during which he challenged her on the “racism in her local party”.
Saqib Bhatti MP hit back at the councillors claims, saying the facts have been ‘misrepresented’
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Ms Gethen’s colleague, Councillor Phil Tierney had previously made headlines after suggesting Muslims should not hold public office, and described himself as Islamophobic.
A Reform spokesman previously said the party was “thoroughly investigating these allegations”, but declined to comment further.
Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake called on party leader Nigel Farage to expel Mr Tierney, dubbing his rhetoric as “vile, racist posts and are completely unacceptable”.
Mr Bhatti’s spokesman told GB News the MP had challenged Councillor Gethen’s endorsement of her colleague, where she allegedly refused to condemn Mr Tierney’s statements.
“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 MP’s spokesman added.
“Mr Bhatti hopes that Councillor Gethen will now break her silence and do the same.”
Ms Gethen’s X post garnered some 400,000 views – among them being deputy leader of Reform, Richard Tice MP, who condemned her treatment at the Send meeting as “appalling”.
Mr Bhatti responded to Mr Tice, declaring Ms Gethen “was clearly there to cause trouble”, adding “I think you need to sort the racism in your ranks”.