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Saqib Bhatti

Saqib Bhatti

Shadow Minister (Education)

ConservativeMP for Meriden and Solihull East

What Saqib said recently

Debate

Opposition Day: Summer Jobs

“Speaker, and I thank my honourable Friend for his excellent speech. I obviously agree with everything he just said, because this is a really important debate, and I think the motion put forward by His Majesty's opposition is so significant …”

Questions

Oral questions: Education

“Just a few months ago, the TES reported that the Government had frozen the high needs funding block, which special schools rely on. Headteachers are warning that the Government’s decision means that children will not get the support they ne…”

Urgent question

Urgent question: Steel Tariffs

“I am greatly concerned by this issue. I spoke in the consideration of the steel Bill, and I raised the concerns of some of my businesses. The Minister rightly said that the measures expire on 30 June, but there is less than two weeks to go …”

Legislation

Health Bill

“The shadow Secretary of State is making an excellent speech, and I commend his speechwriter! I am sure my right honourable Friend wrote it himself. On accountability, the Secretary of State spoke repeatedly about devolving powers, but this …”

Debate

Getting Britain Working Again

“It is a privilege to close this debate on behalf of His Majesty’s official Opposition. I praise all Members for their contributions; while I did not agree with all of them, I recognise the passion with which they were delivered on topics th…”

Questions

Oral questions: Education

“Apprenticeships should be the building blocks of a stronger economy. That is why the Conservatives are pledging to double the number. If the Minister has done his homework, he will know that any increase in apprenticeship numbers is due to …”

Debate

SEND Provision and Reform

“I thank Members from across the House for contributing to a wide-ranging and passionate debate about an issue that affects each and every one of us, and many of our constituents. I thank my honourable Friend the Member for Farnham and Bordo…”

Debate

Lord Mandelson

“My honourable Friend talks about it being worth the risk, but this is not just about denigrating those victims; it is also about those Labour Back Benchers that the Prime Minister is marching up the hill. It is worth the risk for him to mar…”

Read Saqib’s full contribution →15× at the despatch box
Questions

Oral questions: Education

“I note that the Minister, in response to my honourable Friend the Member for Farnham and Bordon (Gregory Stafford), said that the Budget gave much clarity, but the reality is that the Office for Budget Responsibility analysis highlighted a …”

Debate

Jury Trials

“It is an honour to follow the honourable Member for Derby North (Catherine Atkinson). I listened to her speech very closely, and it was largely invalidated by the admission of the Minister that she would have made this change anyway, irresp…”

Debate

Seasonal Work

“On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I bring to the House an issue of grave concern. At Prime Minister’s questions this afternoon, the Leader of the Opposition asked the Prime Minister how many more teachers there were since the Educa…”

Questions

Prime Minister's Question Time

“Q2. Over the coming weeks, millions of people from across the country will be visiting their local church. Churches are custodians of our history and they do enormous good, but in January the Government announced a £19 million cut to the li…”

Questions

Oral questions: Education

“Last month’s curriculum review demonstrated that the Government are fixated on watering down the curriculum, whether that is scrapping the English baccalaureate or changing Progress 8. These changes will lower standards for our children and…”

Urgent question

Urgent question: Ministerial Code

“The Minister said that the Government’s defining mission is to uphold the highest standards, but he is failing to answer simple questions about transparency. How much did the Prime Minister receive in donations from David Kogan, and did he …”

Debate

Business of the House

“The Meriden gap is a vital route for migrating wildlife, and it is under huge threat from the Government’s planning agenda and the dubiously vague definition of grey belt. My constituents in villages such as Balsall Common and Berkswell hav…”

Debate

Energy

“My right honourable Friend is making an excellent speech. I am really worried about my constituents who will face higher bills going into winter and beyond. The message is clear, is it not? This Labour Government have the power to get bills…”

Debate

Stamp Duty Land Tax

“The honourable Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Andrew Lewin) talked about millionaires getting a tax cut, but we are talking about young families getting on the ladder. Does my right honourable Friend the shadow Chancellor agree that while Labo…”

Legislation

Victims and Courts Bill

“What a privilege it is to follow those powerful speeches from the honourable Members for Knowsley (Anneliese Midgley) and for Bolsover (Natalie Fleet). They are clearly two very formidable parliamentarians, and it is a privilege to be in th…”

Questions

Oral questions: Education

“I welcome the Minister to his new role. I have been listening to him closely, but I have to say that the rhetoric does not match the actions. In fact, the headteacher of Ashcroft academy wrote to the Secretary of State saying exactly that t…”

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