Manchester Arena victim’s mother urges Sunak to pass terror law ahead of election

The mother of a Manchester Arena bombing victim has urged the Prime Minister to promise new terror legislation will be passed before the next election.

Martyn Hett’s mother Figen Murray met Rishi Sunak and Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday after Prime Minister’s Questions.

Martyn’s Law, named after the 29-year-old, who was one of 22 people killed at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017, would require UK venues and local authorities to have training requirements and plans preventive measures against terrorism. attacks.

Ms Murray said: “The Prime Minister has promised me today that she will bring Martyn’s Bill to Parliament before the summer recess. This is important and welcome.

“What the Prime Minister failed to promise was that this legislation would be passed before the next election.

“The bills do not save lives and its introduction does not respect the Government’s commitment to make us safer.

“I urge the Prime Minister to act urgently to do this.”

Speculation gathered on Wednesday that the prime minister was set to call a general election.

Sir Keir wrote to Mr Sunak after a “very positive” meeting with Ms Murray.

He said the Labor Party “wholeheartedly” supports his campaign and the Tory leader should work with him to “deliver on this promise without delay”.

“As you know, today marks the seventh anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing – a horrific act of terror which claimed 22 innocent lives and injured over 1,000 people,” Sir Keir wrote.

“In the wake of that terrible attack, our nation was united in grief. The city of Manchester was shocked to its core. And families faced the unimaginable pain of learning that parents, siblings and children would never return home.

“Like you, I met such a family today. Figen Murray and her family have shown incredible strength since the loss of her son, Martyn Hett. Their campaign for Martyn’s Law showed that a positive legacy can emerge from that dark day in our nation’s history.

“The Labor Party wholeheartedly supports Figen’s tireless campaign – alongside Survivors Against Terror – to make Martyn’s Law a reality. It will be an important step in ensuring that people feel safe at events and it is only right that the Government follow through on their promise to legislate for this.

“Like Figen and her family, the Labor Party wants to see Martyn’s Law on the statute book as soon as possible. To that end, I am writing to confirm that we are happy to work with you and your government, through the usual channels, to agree this stand-alone bill and ensure that it is given parliamentary time as a priority.

“If time is allocated after the next recess, we will work constructively with the Government to ensure that this bill is passed quickly.

“You remember the promise you made to Figen Murray in December 2022 to implement this legislation. I urge you to work with us to fulfill this promise without delay. The victims and their families deserve nothing less.”

Speaking to Ms Murray in Parliament, Sir Keir said if there was a general election and a change of government, the Labor Party would pass the law.

He said: “We’re going to push this Government as long as it’s there … because this is a cross-party issue that it’s capable of moving through very quickly. You deserve nothing less.”

Ms Murray replied: “Terrorism is just horrendous. No one should be in a situation like ours, where we have our son’s ashes on a bookshelf at home. It’s just not right.

“Five years into the campaign, I was hoping to get a really positive response. Although it was semi-positive, it wasn’t the answer I wanted to hear. So I implore you to do so if this current government will not do it.”

In a later statement, she said: “While (Sir Keir’s statement) is very encouraging, we don’t want to wait for a new government to do this.

“With cross-party support and public safety at stake, there is no excuse not to do it now.”

Before the meetings, Ms Murray had walked 200 miles to Downing Street and sent a letter to the Prime Minister as part of a campaign for Martyn’s Law.