'We were promised Martyn's Law would be enacted - that promise hasn't been kept'

Figen Murray has said she feels 'let down' and 'misled' by Rishi Sunak after his decision to call an election saw her terror safety law fall by the wayside.

The mother of arena bomb victim Martyn Hett - who would see the new legislation named after him - has been campaigning since his death for legislation that would require UK venues and councils to have mandatory training and plans to prevent and protect against terror attacks.

She is one of more than 120 people affected by terror attacks to have signed a letter demanding “clear commitments” from leaders of all political parties ahead of the election. The group lamented “missed opportunities” to bring in long overdue reforms to better protect against threats, support network Survivors Against Terror (SAT) said.

READ MORE: Jay Slater missing in Tenerife LIVE updates as desperate search for teen continues

The letter, published four years after the Reading terror attack, said: “Days ahead of the last election a terror attack struck at Fishmongers Hall.

“In the aftermath we were promised that Martyn’s Law (a law focused on improving security at public venues) would be enacted and a Survivor’s Charter (guaranteeing the rights of survivors of terror attacks) would be brought forward.

“In the almost five years since, neither of those promises have been kept – we are no safer and no better supported than we were five years ago.”

Signed by relatives who have lost loved ones and victims who were injured and survived in more than 20 different terror attacks, including Manchester Arena, Fishmongers Hall, London Bridge, Westminster Bridge, Reading and Tunisia, the letter added: “Public venues remain at heightened risk of attack, survivors languish on waiting lists for mental health support and seriously injured people are still waiting for compensation many years after life changing attacks made it impossible for them to work.

“That has to change this time. We urge all parties not only to recommit to Martyn’s Law and the Survivor’s Charter, but to be clear about the timelines for their implementation because draft legislation doesn’t save lives and consultations don’t change living conditions”.

Last week, Labour joined the Conservatives in promising to bring in Martyn’s Law to help protect venues against terror attacks amid a row over years of delays in introducing the legislation.

But she said she felt “let down” and “misled” after meeting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who told her he would introduce the legislation before the parliamentary summer break.

Later that same day he called the General Election, leading to Parliament being dissolved before Martyn’s Law could be enacted. Ms Murray said: “My hopes have been raised and disappointed so many times – even on the day the election was called.

“This should be an issue that our parties agree on – not an area of systematic neglect. I want all parties to commit to making this a priority ahead of the election.”