Manchester Arena victim's mum in Hinckley on long walk for justice

The mother of a victim of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing has set off from Hinckley this morning on the latest leg of her long walk to Downing Street to demand a change to the law. Figen Murray's son Martyn Hett, 29, was among the 22 people killed in the attack after an Ariana Grande concert.

She is on a 186-mile walk from Manchester to London to raise support for Martyn's Law, which would require all venues and local authorities in the UK to have preventative plans against terror attacks. She was joined on the latest leg of the walk today by supporters including Brendan Cox, the husband of the late MP Jo Cox, who was murdered in Yorkshire in 2016 by a right-wing terrorist, and Charlotte Dixon Sutcliffe, whose husband David was killed in the Brussels Metro bombing, also in 2016.

Speaking before she set off on the 16-day walk, Figen said: “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. I am walking from the spot where my son died to 10 Downing Street to remind the Prime Minister of his commitment to introduce legislation that will improve security and protections at public venues. The campaign for Martyn’s Law has already been a long journey, I hope this walk is the final leg. All I am asking is for the PM to keep his promise.”

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Ms Murray has written to Rishi Sunak and asked him to meet her when she arrives at Downing Street and to name a date when the Government’s draft law will come to the House of Commons. Since her son’s death, she has obtained a master's degree in counter-terrorism and received an OBE.

Martyn’s Law was a commitment in the Conservative Manifesto in 2019 and was followed by public consultations but it hasn't become law yet. It was held up after a Home Affairs Select Committee in July 2023 said it could put small businesses and organisations at risk of closure and fail to “make a significant impact” on preventing attacks.

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.”