Legislation known as Martyn’s Law had its secondary reading in the House of Lords today, with former Prime Minister Theresa May calling it “so important” in light of recent global terror attacks.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill was first introduced to Parliament in September this year after being included in the King’s Speech in July.
Designed to ensure all venues in the UK with a capacity greater than 200 people will have contingency plans for a terror attack on their premises, it is named after Martyn Hett, one of the 22 victims to lose their lives in the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.
The bill completed its stages of approval and debate through the House of Commons in early December, and progressed to the House of Lords where it will undergo the same process.
At the time, Martyn’s mother Figen said: “After almost six years of campaigning, I’m pleased to see the speed at which the Government is progressing the Bill through Parliament.
“I hope this will mean that Martyn’s law will be on the statute book ahead of the eighth anniversary of Martyn’s death – something that is important to my family.”
Ministers speaking in the Lords today at the secondary reading – where members may debate the contents of a bill of the first time – also paid tribute to Figen, according to PA.
Starting from a petition in 2019, Ms Murray walked 200 miles from Manchester to London last May to deliver a letter to the then-Prime Minister to push for faster progress.
Figen Murray on Downing Street, with her husband Stuart
(Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
“The fact we are debating today this Bill is a direct result of her tenacity, her persistence and that of her colleagues in the campaign team,” said Lord Hanson of Flint, who opened the debate.
“The commitment and courage that she has shown in campaigning for changes that will benefit others is quite frankly extraordinary.”
Theresa May, who was prime minister at the time of the attack, said she ‘welcomed’ the early introduction of the bill in Labour’s term – and that it has “such broad cross-party support.”
She told the House of Lords: “The attacks that took place in Magdeburg and New Orleans over Christmas and New Year show that we cannot be complacent about the terrorist threat.
“There is a danger, when terrorist attacks do not take place for a period of time, that we are lulled into a false sense of complacency – and we must not be.
“Sadly, as we have seen at Manchester Arena and elsewhere, what is obvious is not always done, and that is why this Bill is so important.
“It will bring home to people the responsibilities that they have to ensure the increased safety of those people who are attending events at their premises.”