Arena victim's mum ends 200-mile walk over new law

Figen Murray was joined by her husband and daughters as she arrived at 10 Downing Street

The mother of a Manchester Arena bomb victim has completed her 200-mile (321km) trek to Downing Street to deliver a letter to the prime minister calling for a law tightening security at public venues to be introduced.

Figen Murray, whose son Martyn Hett was one of 22 people killed by the attack on 22 May 2017, set off from the arena on 7 May.

Arriving at Downing Street on the seventh anniversary of her son's death, she said it had been 18 months since Rishi Sunak told her that he was supportive of the legislation, which has become known as Martyn's Law.

The Home Office said it was in the final stages of drafting the legislation.

The walk began on 7 May

Finishing her walk alongside her husband and daughters, Ms Murray urged Mr Sunak to set a date for the law to be introduced to Parliament.

"To be fair to the government, we had Covid and changes in leadership - those delays didn't help," she said.

"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."

Ms Murray also sat in the public gallery in the House of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions and met with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

She said she hoped Sir Keir would also be "supportive" of the law.

"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," she said.

"Nobody objected to it and hopefully that continues.

Mr Sunak told the House he looked forward to meeting her, adding that he wanted to "pay tribute" to Ms Murray "for her courage and her bravery of her campaigning in her son Martyn's memory".

Sir Keir said he also welcomed Ms Murray.

"She's campaigning for Martyn's Law which we must make a reality as soon as possible," he added.

Ms Murray and her husband met with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer

A consultation on a bill for Martyn's Law, which was a commitment in the Conservative manifesto in 2019, closed in March.

The results have been sent to the government for consideration.

The legislation would see venues and local authorities in the UK face training requirements and a legal duty to produce preventative plans against terror attacks.

Ms Murray has been joined by numerous supporters on her walk, including the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox and Charlotte Dixon Sutcliffe, whose husband David was killed in the Brussels Metro bombing in 2016.

A Home Office representative said the government was in the final stages of drafting the new law.

"We are grateful to Figen Murray for her tireless support of this issue," they said.

"It is important that our new law stands the test of time and is a fitting tribute to those who have campaigned for it."