NEW Bradford East MP Imran Hussain has used his maiden speech to call for urgent intervention in Bradford's underperforming schools system.

The Labour MP, speaking for the first time in Parliament today, said: "The biggest challenge that we face is undoubtedly our educational achievement. Our schools are at the bottom of the league tables, and we have a school places crisis that lies unresolved. That will be a clear priority."

He said he would be working towards bringing a "game-changing intervention - to Bradford to solve our education crisis", adding that the city deserved its own version of the London Challenge school improvement programme.

He said: "We cannot fail our young people any longer. They are the future, and we cannot be in the same place ten years from now, having failed another generation of young people, having debates about the failure of education in our great city."

Mr Hussain (pictured) also spoke about his own humble beginnings, sweeping floors in Morrisons at the age of 15 and compared himself to Bradford magician Dynamo.

"Famous Bradfordians of note include the magician Dynamo, who walked across the Thames just outside this chamber.

"The House will further note again, I have no such plans. Certainly not in the first 12 months," he said.