In the darkness came rays of light... to save young lives in the future

HOME SECRETARY'S MOVING WORDS AS MARTYN'S LAW BILL DEBATED

- THOMAS GEORGE

HOME Secretary Yvette Cooper paid tribute to the mum of Manchester Arena bombing victim Martyn Hett as she introduced an anti-terrorism bill in his memory to Parliament.

Figen Murray - the mother of Martyn Hett - watched from the House of Commons gallery last night as MPs debated the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill for the first time.

The Home Secretary told MPs: "It is a Bill which has the wholehearted support of both the Prime Minister (Sir Keir Starmer) and the leader of the Opposition (Rishi Sunak) and I hope the whole House." Ms Cooper added: "Seven-and-ahalf years ago, on the evening of May 22 2017, thousands of people went to Manchester Arena for a music concert. Many of those in attendance were children and teenagers there to see Ariana Grande, to see their favourite pop star and to dance and sing along to her songs, to soak up the atmosphere with friends, family.

"But as the event drew to a close and people started to leave, terror struck. Scenes of happiness gave way to shock and to trauma and an enjoyable spring evening was transformed into a nightmare.

"More than 1,000 people were injured, 22 of them never came home and nine of those were teenagers.

"Today we remember them all, their lives brutally cut short in an act of pure evil." 'Martyn's Law' calls for mandatory anti-terror training for staff and tighter event security at venues and intends to help protect the public from potential attacks. Ms Murray has spent the last six years tireless campaigning for the legislation.