Theresa May emphasizes the significance of Martyn’s Law during its debate in the House of Lords, highlighting recent terror threats.
Manchester: Today, the House of Lords kicked off a debate on Martyn’s Law, and Theresa May was all in, calling it “so important.” This comes after some pretty scary terror attacks around the world.
The bill, officially known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, was first brought to Parliament back in September. It was part of the King’s Speech in July, so it’s been in the works for a while.
What’s the deal with this law? It’s aimed at making sure venues in the UK that hold over 200 people have solid plans in place for any potential terror attacks. It’s named after Martyn Hett, one of the victims from the tragic Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.
After making its way through the House of Commons in early December, the bill is now in the House of Lords for more discussion. Martyn’s mom, Figen, has been a real champion for this cause, and she’s thrilled to see things moving along.
She mentioned that after nearly six years of pushing for this, she hopes the law will be on the books before the eighth anniversary of her son’s death. That would mean a lot to her family.
During today’s debate, members of the Lords paid tribute to Figen for her relentless efforts. Lord Hanson of Flint kicked things off by acknowledging her hard work and determination.
Theresa May, who was in charge when the attack happened, expressed her support for the bill, noting that it has strong backing from both sides of the aisle. She pointed out that recent attacks in places like Magdeburg and New Orleans remind us that we can’t let our guard down.
She stressed that it’s easy to get complacent when there aren’t any attacks for a while, but we need to stay alert. The bill is crucial because it highlights the responsibilities venues have to keep their guests safe.
