Arena bombing victim’s mother ‘feels misled’ after Sunak's election call threatens Martyn's Law

The mother of a Manchester Arena bombing victim has said she felt 'a bit misled' by the Prime Minister in their meeting following her 200-mile walk to Downing Street. Within hours he called a general election and the chances of Martyn's Law being passed by Parliament speedily were thrown into turmoil.

Figen Murray, the mother of Martyn Hett, had talks with Rishi Sunak on Wednesday just a few hours before he announced the election, in which she urged him to make good on a personal promise to pass new terror legislation in her son’s name.

Martyn’s Law, named in tribute to the 29-year-old who was one of 22 people killed at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017, would require venues and local authorities in the UK to have training requirements and plans to prevent terror attacks. Following the meeting with the PM, Ms Murray said he had promised her he would introduce Martyn’s Law to Parliament before summer recess but could not guarantee the legislation would be passed before the next election.

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Just two more days of Commons business have been scheduled, during which important legislation will now have to be rushed through.

Ms Murray's conversation with the PM came at the same time Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer wrote to Mr Sunak promising his support to ensure the bill becomes law. He wrote: "If time is allocated after the upcoming recess, we will work constructively with the government to ensure this bill is passed swiftly. You will recall the promise you made to Figen Murray in December 2022 to put this legislation into place. I urge you to work with us to deliver on that promise without further delay. The victims and their families deserve nothing less."

Party whips from the Conservatives and Labour are holding talks to work out what remaining legislation can become law before prorogation – the end of the current parliamentary session – on Friday. Speaking on Thursday to ITV1’s Good Morning Britain, Ms Murray said: “During the meeting yesterday we shook hands, he actually agreed, he promised that he will bring it into Parliament before summer recess but he could not guarantee that it’s going to be done by the next general election.

“We shook hands and he looked me straight me in the eyes so I don’t feel I was being lied to because he at that point knew what he was going to do later that day but he must have been in a really difficult position. However he could have maybe handled it slightly differently. I feel a bit misled rather than lied to."

Ms Murray added: "He is behind the legislation definitely and we had a conversation on the phone 18 months ago where he said he is absolutely fully supportive of the legislation, it’s a no-brainer, and he would support it."

The staunch campaigner began her walk on May 7 on the spot where her son was killed in the atrocity as she continues to demand Martyn’s Law is introduced to Parliament after numerous reassurances from the Government over the past five years that it would happen.

Ms Murray also met with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday who told her he would pass Martyn’s Law if there was a change of government. She later said: "While this is very encouraging, we don’t want to wait for a new government to get this done. With all party support and public security at risk, there is no excuse for not getting this done now."

Before the announcement of a general election she watched from the public gallery as MPs, the Prime Minister and the Labour Party leader sent their condolences to all the families who lost loved ones in the 2017 terrorist bombing on the seventh anniversary of the atrocity.

Shadow Commons leader today Lucy Powell (Manchester Central) expressed concerns over the future of proposed legislation to require venues and local authorities in the UK to have training requirements and preventative plans against terror attacks.

Ms Powell told the Commons: “The Prime Minister yesterday promised Figen Murray – mother of Martyn Hett, killed in that attack – that Martyn’s Law would be introduced before the summer recess. Regrettably that now seems unlikely, but I hope whoever is returned after the election can bring in Martyn’s Law as soon as possible.”

Ms Powell added on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak: “His abrupt dissolution of Parliament means he will start the campaign leaving many Government commitments and Bills up in the air or in the bin. His pledge on a smoke-free generation, plan for a football regulator, promises to renters and leaseholders and protections for our broadcasters now all at risk.

“I’m pleased very important commitments to the victims of the Post Office and infected blood scandals will be honoured in our final business this week.”