Mum of Manchester Arena victim completes walk to Downing Street to push for Martyn's Law
ITV Granada Reports correspondent Victoria Grimes was with Figen Murray as she completed her walk to Westminster
The mother of a Manchester Arena bombing victim has completed a 200-mile walk to demand the prime minister introduce stronger protections against terrorism in public places.
Figen Murray has walked for more than two weeks to reach Downing Street and look Rishi Sunak “in the eye” after leaving the AO Arena on 7 May.
She is calling for action to make venues safer after her son Martyn Hett was one of 22 people killed at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017.
Arriving just in time for Prime Minister's Questions, Figen Murray was welcomed by Conservative and Labour leaders Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer.
Sunak begun PMQs by paying tribute to victims of the Manchester Arena Bombing as well as Figen, who sat in the gallery.
He said: "I know the whole house will join me in remembering the victims of the horrific Manchester Arena bombing seven years ago today. Our thoughts are with them and their families.
"I’d like to pay tribute to Figen Murray, who joins us in the gallery, for her courage and her bravery of her campaigning in her son Martyn’s memory. I look forward to meeting her later today too."
Sir Keir Starmer, who Figen and her husband met shortly after PMQs, added: "I also welcome Figen Murray… She lost her son Martyn seven years ago today in the Manchester Arena attacks and we remember everybody who was lost in that awful attack.
"She’s campaigning for Martyn’s Law, which we must make a reality as soon as possible."
Martyn’s Law, her campaign named in tribute to the 29-year-old, would require venues and local authorities in the UK to have training requirements and preventative plans against terror attacks.
Arriving at Westminster in time for Prime Minister's Questions, Rishi Sunak paid tribute to
Figen began her walk at the spot Martyn died alongside 21 others when a bomb was detonated at the Arena by Salman Abedi.
Ms Murray said her “life changed overnight” when her son was killed in the attack.
“Martyn’s death could have been avoided if there were basic security measures in place that night and that is why I have been tirelessly campaigning to ensure no parent experiences the pain and loss that I endure daily,” she said.
Arriving at Downing Street, Figen said: She said: “To be fair to the Government, we had Covid and changes in leadership – those delays didn’t help. But the draft legislation has been made for quite some time.
“And that is the reason I’m here because I’m not sure why it’s delayed and I’m really expecting the Prime Minister to give me an answer today as far as the date is concerned.
“I’m hoping that Keir Starmer is also supportive of it (Martyn’s Law), which I think he will be because when we had the very first press conference about Martyn’s Law back in Manchester we actually had cross-party support.
“Nobody objected to it and hopefully that continues."
Martyn’s Law was a commitment in the Conservative Manifesto in 2019
But in July 2023 a draft of the bill was criticised over how it could impact small businesses.
Figen added: “Today is the seventh anniversary of Martyn’s death and it’s important because I don’t want any other family to go through what we went through.
“Martyn’s Law is legislation to keep people safe in venues when they go out and about and it has to be mandated sooner rather than later.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “As set out in the King’s Speech, we are committed to bringing in Martyn’s Law – legislation that will better protect the public from terror attacks, and we are grateful to Figen Murray for her tireless support of this issue.
“It is important that our new law stands the test of time and is a fitting tribute to those who have campaigned for it. That is why we have consulted on how we can protect the public without putting unnecessary burdens on smaller businesses.
“We are now in the final stages of drafting this legislation, and it will be brought in as soon as possible."