Moment mother of Manchester Arena bombing victim completes her 200-mile walk ... trends now
The mother of a Manchester Arena bombing victim has ended a 200-mile walk by calling on Rishi Sunak to bring legislation to prevent similar tragedies in future.
Figen Murray arrived at Downing Street this morning, 16 days after setting off from the spot her son Martyn Hett, 29, was killed alongside 21 others who attended an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017.
Martyn's mother is pushing for the implementation of 'Martyn's Law' which would require venues and local authorities in the UK to have training requirements and preventative plans against terror attacks.
Ms Murray said she had waited 18 months since the Prime Minister told her in a phone call that he was supportive of the legislation, which has yet to get beyond draft stage.
Flanked by her husband Stuart at the gates to Downing Street, she added: 'I'd like an answer, I'd like a date [when legislation will be brought to parliament] please. I think we deserve a date.'
This is the moment Figen Murray, mother of Manchester Arena bombing victim Martyn Hett, arrived at Downing Street on the anniversary of the terror attack having walked 200 miles as part of a campaign to see tough new counter-terror laws brought to the UK
Martyn's Law, named after the 29-year-old victim (pictured), would require venues and local authorities in the UK to have training requirements and preventative plans against terror attacks
Pictured: Ms Murray handing in a letter about Martyn's Law to Number 10 this morning, as she expects to meet both Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer today
Ms Murray set off from Manchester Arena at 11am on May 7 with the intent to look Mr Sunak 'in the eye' and call for the implementation of Martyn's Law.
She is expected to meet with both Mr Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer today, with the end of her 16-day journey marking the seventh anniversary of her son's death.
She has been joined by numerous supporters throughout her walk, including murdered MP Jo Cox's husband Brendan and Charlotte Dixon Sutcliffe, whose husband David was killed in the Brussels Metro bombing in 2016.
Joining Ms Murray on the second half of her trek, Mr Cox, whose wife Jo was murdered by a right-wing extremist outside a West Yorkshire library in June 2016, said he had been 'inspired' by the grieving mother.
He said: 'It shouldn't come to this, frankly. The reality is that Government knows there's this loophole in our security, it has promised to fix it, it has got draft legislation but it hasn't put that to Parliament and until that is implemented, nobody is safer.'
A Home Office spokesperson previously 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
