Two lives lost and two campaigns that will lead to lasting change

LABOUR ANNOUNCES LAWS SET TO MAKE VENUES AND HOMES SAFER

- JOSEPH TIMAN

THEIR lives were lost in unthinkable circumstances. But their tragic deaths will now both lead to lasting change.

Martyn Hett died, aged 29, in the Manchester Arena bombing. Awaab Ishak died, aged two, due to damp in his Rochdale flat.

For many years, the M.E.N. has been campaigning for new laws that would save others from suffering the same fate.

Yesterday, King Charles III announced that they will both be among the first new laws his new Labour government will pass.

Martyn's Law will strengthen security at public events and venues, while Awaab's Law will now protect even more people from poor quality housing.

They both featured in the King's Speech which set out Labour's legislative agenda for the next parliamentary session.

It comes less than two months after Rishi Sunak met with Martyn's mum Figen Murray who walked 200 miles from Manchester to London on the seventh anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack. He told her that Martyn's Law would be passed by the summer, but hours later, the then Prime Minister called a general election which meant Parliament shut down before the bill went through.