'I'm just a mum, who made it her business to educate herself about the enemy' (2025)

'I would hope that if Martyn was here now, he would probably, after it has passed royal assent, throw the biggest party ever'

Figen Murray has made the trip down to London to sit in the House of Commons many times over the course of her long campaign for change in the name of her son, Martyn Hett.

In around two weeks time, she plans to do so once again - just to hear a simple sentence comprising around 10 words read out aloud. It will take just a matter of seconds to proclaim, but Figen said the words would be the 'crowning glory' for Martyn's Law.

For some six years she has called for real and lasting change around event and venue security to protect the public from the ever-present threat of terrorism, a campaign arising after the death of 29 year-old Martyn, and the deaths of 21 other innocents, in the Manchester Arena bombing atrocity of May, 2017.

Sat in the public benches of the historic seat of Parliament on Tuesday (March 25), she watched as The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill cleared the final stage of the House of Commons after passing through the House of Lords in December last year.

The Bill - known to all as Martyn's Law - will now go for royal assent, when the King formally agrees to make the Bill into an Act of Parliament - a law. That process is expected to happen within a fortnight.

A victory for Figen and all those who have supported her along the way. A legacy for Martyn.

And no one is going to stop the campaigning mum from stepping on the train at Manchester Piccadilly bound for London once again.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News today (March 26), a delighted Figen said: "We are not there yet - we're waiting for royal assent. Royal assent has to be given first, but that will happen in the next one or two weeks, no more than a fortnight away now.

"Yesterday was a huge step because that was signing it all off officially. The next step, at some point I am going to be in the House of Commons to listen to one single sentence. All they are going to say is 'The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill has now been given royal assent. That's all they are going to say.

"It was suggested to me that I don't need to travel all the way to London to hear that, because if I don't listen carefully, I will miss it.

"And I looked at the person as if they had two heads. I said - what? That's the equivalent of going through six and a half hours of complicated pregnancy and then you're asking me to miss the birth. It's the most important thing I want to hear - I will be there, definitely, to hear that. It's the one that I have been waiting for all these years. It's imminent, it's very, very imminent and I couldn't be prouder or more pleased."

The legislation means that a new duty would be placed on premises and public events, requiring them to take appropriate action to strengthen public safety, with requirements reflecting the size of the venue and the activity taking place.

The Home Office has said premises 'will be required to fulfil necessary but proportionate steps, according to their capacity, to help keep the public safe'.

Premises with a capacity of between 200 and 799 will be asked to put in place 'simple yet effective' procedures to reduce harm to the public the event of an attack - such as training staff to lock doors, close shutters and identify a safe route to cover. Venues with a capacity of 800 or more will need to put in place measures such as CCTV or hiring security staff.

Figen told of the campaign's many ups and downs over the years - until now Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer 'pulled her to one side' before the election.

Previously, she has walked the long road to Downing Street on foot to press home the cause and it's urgent need. "It's funny because we have been here so many times over the years," said Figen after MPs supported amendments to the Bill put forward by the House of Lords, clearing the path of Martyn's Law for royal assent.

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"Every year I thought, 'this is the year it is going to happen - this will be the year - this will be the year it will definitely happen'. And nothing happened. Another year passed.

"Then Rishi Sunak, in December, 2022, phoned me at home and promised me. He said it was a no brainer. He said 'you have the Government's commitment, I promise you we will get this through asap'."

But Figen said 'nothing happened' - prompting her to personally pound the streets to Number 10. She said Sir Keir Starmer then took her to one side and told her that if he was elected, he would 'hurry this through'.

"Now it has gained so much momentum," Figen said. "The stages happened so quickly I have to almost pinch myself, thinking 'it can't be true'. Now we are here. Literally royal assent is all we are waiting for now and I can't believe it."

Figen said the general public - and events venues falling under the scope of the Bill - now need to be aware of what exactly Martyn's Law entails. "If you asked 100 people on the high street what Martyn's Law is, I would say 95 would say 'never heard of it'," she told the M.E.N.

"To me that is not good enough. But the Government is preparing a public event, a campaign, but they are not launching it until after royal assent, which is quite right. Once the general public knows about the legislation and that they have a right to be kept secure and safe at venues, they can then be empowered to actually challenge poor security at venues.

"There is a two-year implementation period, so no one will get sanctioned for bad security, but venues have two years to get their act together and get their security measures sorted out. It will mean that the general public will be much safer in the future."

Figen agreed Martyn's Law could go 'further and tighter' in the future.

She said: "The Government stuck to their guns and kept the threshold at 200, which is great. There were figures of 300 to 500 mentioned, or 800 or whatever. But it stayed at 200, which is absolutely right. There will be opportunity in the future, once it's up and running and the implementation period is gone and we see it in action, there can be a review of what works and what doesn't work.

"Hopefully it can be tightened - but hopefully there is no need for that."

Figen said the security sector industry as a whole is 'stepping up'.

She said: "I have seen massive changes, certainly over the last six months. People are reporting more and more to me - 'I have been to this venue and the security was amazing'. People are stepping up, I know that, in preparation for the legislation. There's been definite positive steps already made. Some venues are waiting for the legislation until they step up, which is also fine."

Figen said she has given the campaign, backed by the Manchester Evening News from the start, '150 per cent' and had 'shelved' other things in her life to concentrate on it. A fact acknowledged in the Commons on Monday, where Figen drew warm praise.

She was hailed as 'inspiring and phenomenal'. Security minister Dan Jarvis MP said there was 'someone above all that we must pay tribute to, and that is Figen Murray'.

"Her campaign has been nothing short of extraordinary," said Mr Jarvis. "To have lost her son, Martyn Hett, in the Manchester Arena attack in May, 2017, and to have yet still found the strength to drive this campaign forward is both inspiring and phenomenal.

"I know that all members right across this House will join me in paying tribute to Figen."

Lisa Smart, the Liberal Democrat MP for Hazel Grove in Stockport, said Figen's campaign has been defined by 'compassion, determination and a belief that no other family should ever experience what her's have had to endure'. "Today we are seeing the fruits of her dedication," she told the Commons. "This Bill is a testament to her courage and her unrelenting hope that something good could emerge from the darkest of circumstances.

"Thanks to Figen's advocacy this country will be better prepared to keep people safe in our public spaces. Martyn's Law will not bring back those who were taken from us. But it will save lives. And in doing so it will stand as a lasting tribute to Martyn and Figen Murray, and to the people of Greater Manchester."

Figen reacted to the praise with typical dignity.

"It's all a bit embarrassing - I don't want to be called things like that," she said.

"I'm just Martyn's mum, who made it her business to educate herself about learning about the enemy. But I would hope that if Martyn was here now, he would probably, after it has passed royal assent, throw the biggest party ever."