Latest news with #JoCox
The Guardian
7 hours ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Emotional MPs react to historic vote to allow assisted dying
When Kim Leadbeater walked out of the chamber of the House of Commons into parliament's central lobby, she was embraced by some campaigners who did not even know if they would be alive when the vote came. 'Overwhelmingly the sense is relief,' she said. Her close colleague, the Labour MP Lizzi Collinge was near to tears. For the Conservative Kit Malthouse, standing nearby, it was the culmination of a decade of campaigning within his own party. More than 20 of his colleagues – more than he expected – backed the bill. But even in the voting lobbies MPs were texting each other with doubts the bill would pass, so high was the tension on both sides. When the speaker read out the numbers, Keir Starmer, a longtime supporter who has tried to stay studiously neutral, allowed himself a small smile. Some opponents, many of the veteran Labour female MPs, looked deeply shaken. For Leadbeater, the vote came at a difficult time. Sunday would have been her sister Jo Cox's birthday, and last Monday was the ninth anniversary of the MP's murder. In the six months since the bill was first voted on, opposition has grown more vocal. Leadbeater feels it personally when MPs whom she hoped would support her have moved against the bill. And the attacks, particularly on social media, have become more personal. When she voted, Leadbeater said she would think about a lay preacher with terminal cancer she met in Yorkshire – Pamela – who spoke how she believed that the God of her own faith did not want suffering prolonged. 'I'm fully respectful of everybody's views when it comes to their personal faith,' Leadbeater said in her office, speaking to the Guardian in the evening before the vote. 'But the way she spoke about her religion and how that has informed her thoughts as a dying woman, I thought was very, very powerful.' Leadbeater hopes the bill will get its royal assent by October – but that will be the beginning of a four-year process to implement it, overseen by Whitehall officials. Many questions remain: how it will be funded, whether the NHS will oversee it or private providers and whether it will be free at the point of use. It will be implemented by the Department of Health and Social Care, although Wes Streeting, the health secretary, has told allies he will not seek to impede it. The day-to-day work will be handed over to the care minister Stephen Kinnock, who backed it. And there remain some assisted dying supporters in parliament who feel the bill is a missed opportunity, especially for those with neurological disorders such as Parkinson's who will not be eligible. In the public gallery on Friday, there were rows of campaigners, many of them in tears, with one clasping their hands in prayer. There have been deep bonds formed between both sides in parliament, Leadbeater was surrounded by supporters on the party's left and right, from Jake Richards to John McDonnell. In front of her were some of the bill's most active and thoughtful opponents, a group of female Labour MPs new to parliament, Jess Asato, Polly Billington and Melanie Ward. Those women each had deeply personal reasons for their opposition, such as having long careers fighting for vulnerable women and disabled people. Almost all of those who spoke – for and against – talked about some of the hardest moments of their lives, deaths of parents from pancreatic cancer, a sister with brain cancer, friends dying too young. Some supporters of the bill said they wished at times Leadbeater had taken a harder line. 'Kim has tried to be too constructive with people – you can't negotiate or work with people whose sole intent is to kill the bill. And that's what's frustrating, because whatever you give them, give them an inch and they take a mile,' one MP said. There is still deep unease among advisers in No 10 about the bill's passing and, until the 11th hour, there was a live discussion over whether Starmer would abstain on the vote – especially given the Iran situation. But, as some staffers acknowledge, it would have had echoes of Boris Johnson heading to Afghanistan to avoid a vote on Heathrow. The public, whatever the PM says about neutrality, will assume this is a Labour government endeavour. 'Perhaps there is a lesson here about not promising parliamentary time to Esther Rantzen,' one quipped. The prime minister himself had been deeply conscious of not wanting to appear to influence MPs. He had personally admonished Streeting for doing so before the last vote. But his very presence in the yes lobbies would always be a factor for some. For some MPs, there is a feeling now that the government should take ownership of the issue, as David Cameron did on equal marriage. 'Why not try and take credit for something good? A lot of people really like it,' one MP said. For the most passionate, the issue has dominated the last few months in parliament. But they are in the minority. For others, it was in the week of the final vote that they began to turn their minds to whether the agreed-upon safeguards were robust enough. The message from opponents was that it was no longer a vote on the principle – but on the detail. 'For some of us, this has been our lives for the last six months,' one senior MP said. 'For some colleagues, they just haven't thought about it at all and didn't engage back until this week. How do they really feel about being responsible for wrong or compelled deaths? That was the question put to them.' Other opponents of the bill raised concerns over the highly imperfect nature of a private member's bill, starting a bill from scratch with no heft of a Whitehall department or legislative experts. 'It's been a shocking indictment of our process generally, MPs are suddenly realising that,' said one. Leadbeater has argued to MPs that the bill has had exactly the same level of expertise and input from civil servants as any other. Significant practical changes have been made to the bill since November, including the removal of approval being needed from a high court judge. That was taken out on the demand of the Ministry of Justice, fearful of how it could gum up the courts even further. Now the process will include a panel of psychiatrist, social worker and senior lawyer. That has been met with concern among some of those professions too. The Royal College of Psychiatrists said it feared clinicians could be tied up with those decisions, rather than helping patients navigate their depression, which might enable them to recover enough to want to live longer. For some it was these concerns that were crucial to changing their votes. The Labour MP Josh Fenton-Glynn, who previously abstained, said the safeguards were not strong enough.' I don't legislate for me, I legislate for everyone including those with complex disabilities.' Dr Simon Opher, another Labour MP, said it was clear there would also be people for whom the safeguards would not be robust enough. 'What I realised in the process was that no matter how many safeguards were put in place, almost everyone who was against the bill were steadfast in their views. For many new MPs, being part of such a defining moment of social change so early in their parliamentary careers has been intense. 'It's been an incredibly emotional and at times overwhelming process to be part of, especially as a new MP,' the Lib Dem MP Tom Gordon said. The issue has dominated their postbags. But since November, most who spoke to the Guardian have noticed a concerted increase in those who were against the bill. 'It's one of the first issues in my life where I have actually seen signed petitions on paper – people who have gone door to door or passed it round a church group,' one MP said. In the final hours before the vote, opponents thought they were getting closer. A campaigner even offered to fund a private ambulance for the Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood, an opponent of the bill, who had Covid and feared she would miss the vote – though she eventually tested negative. But though the majority has been slashed – but is still substantial enough to mean peers are unlikely block its progress. The bill will now pass to the House of Lords where it is expected to be shepherded by the Labour peer Charlie Falconer. But it is a process that is still very unpredictable. 'I thought the spreadsheet for us was hard,' one MP backing the bill said. 'That is a different level – will they turn up? Do we even know who they are?'
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kim Leadbeater speaks at memorial Get Together for late Jo Cox
Political figures, including the MP for Batley and Spen, have gathered to remember the legacy of the late Jo Cox MP. The Great Parliamentary Get Together recently took place at Speaker's House in Westminster. Get Togethers are held annually across the country to remember Ms Cox and the 'more in common' values she championed. Kim Leadbeater, Ms Cox's sister and the MP for Batley and Spen, said: "It is heartwarming to see so many familiar faces here - and many new friends too - and on behalf of Jo's family I want to thank you all for coming. "It means a lot to us all that colleagues have taken the time out of their busy schedules to join us to get together to remember Jo. "There is much more work still to do to channel Jo's message of finding common ground." The event was attended by former prime ministers Rishi Sunak and Theresa May; Rachel Reeves; Yvette Cooper; and Lindsay Hoyle, among others. Ms Cox's parents, Gordon and Jean Leadbeater, and Ms Cox's children, Cuillin and Lejla, were special guests. The annual Run for Jo will take place at Oakwell Hall in Birstall this Sunday (June 22), which is also Ms Cox's birthday.
New Statesman
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Statesman
Jo Cox and the privilege of office
Photo byI've been an MP for nearly four years. It's not a career I imagined for myself, and there are many things that frustrate me about it. Not least that the huge volume of work in Westminster and the constituency leaves far too little time for reflection. But this time of year is always the exception for me. It was nine years ago that my sister, Jo Cox, was murdered here in the corner of West Yorkshire where we were born and raised. I still cannot believe what happened and the anniversary never gets any easier. But it is a moment to remember not just what an amazing woman Jo was, but also how in her tragically short time as an MP she made such an impact through her deeply held values and her determination to use the great privilege of parliamentary office to get things done. And always to do so with compassion and humanity – by bringing people together and upholding the words of her maiden speech that, 'We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.' Those words can sometimes be hard to reconcile with the world we see around us, but I am certain that if Jo were alive today she would reject the counsels of despair and urge us to redouble our efforts to seek out the common humanity that is the pathway back from conflict and hatred. When retribution and violence prevail over dialogue and understanding, we end up with both the carnage we are now witnessing on a global scale in the Middle East and the personal tragedy of another political murder of state senator Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark in Minnesota. World leaders gathering in Canada for the G7, including Keir Starmer, rightly insist that the only route to peace is through diplomacy and de-escalation. My sister was killed during the EU referendum campaign. The argument was made then that we are stronger when we work closely with nations that share our values and collectively have the economic muscle to defend them. Today that extends beyond our friends in Europe to include Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many others with which we demonstrably have so much in common. Fit, for a purpose But bringing people together starts in our own communities, where we can all do our bit. We launched the Great Get Together after Jo was killed, and every year thousands of people take part in events across the country on what would have been her birthday on 22 June. This weekend in my Spen Valley constituency the annual Run for Jo takes place, organised by local volunteers, people who never cease to inspire me to keep going no matter how tough things get. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe My background is in health and well-being but it's not easy keeping fit in this job. I am a member of the all-party groups for tennis and women's football, though. Spending time with colleagues with whom I may disagree but have a shared passion really does embrace the More in Common philosophy. For me, sport has always been a force for good and an opportunity to put whatever differences we may have to one side. The power to act I was getting changed in the ladies' toilet at Westminster after a cross-party game of tennis last September when my phone started going crazy. Unbeknown to me, I had just come top in the private members' ballot and so had the chance to introduce my own piece of legislation in parliament. After a great deal of thought and many conversations, I decided to adopt the issue of assisted dying. My Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is due to have its crucial third reading vote on 20 June. The journey to this point has been intense, and at times frustrating, with many months of drafting, taking evidence and debate. Assisted dying was first raised in parliament way back in 1936; it is such an important issue, which means so much to so many people. Since then it has been introduced safely and effectively as part of a holistic approach to end-of-life care in many jurisdictions around the world. The injustice and inhumanity of the status quo means we cannot wait any longer to offer it to terminally ill people here in the UK. As Jo would say, if we have the privilege and the power to do the right thing, we should use it. What are we in politics for if not to right wrongs, correct injustices and help end unnecessary suffering? Kim Leadbeater MBE is the MP for Spen Valley [See also: The ghost of Muriel Spark] Related
The Sun
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
My son Martyn was murdered in Manchester bombing… eight years on we'll celebrate as new law means he didn't die in vain
A YEAR ago today, Figen Murray hobbled in agony along Downing Street, having marched 200 miles to demand tougher terror laws in memory of her murdered son. The grieving mum, 64 — whose lad Martyn Hett was among 22 killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing — bravely pushed through the pain to reach her destination and meet with then-Opposition leader Keir Starmer. 7 7 At a key summit, the Labour chief vowed new legislation to combat atrocities like the one committed by Islamist terrorist Salman Abedi at an Ariana Grande gig in 2017. And he delivered on his promise, with Martyn's Law given Royal Assent last month. Now, on the eighth anniversary of the May 22 Manchester attack, Figen has the strength to smile over her triumphant campaign for change. The new legislation is officially called the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill and will require all venues with a capacity of more than 200 to have a plan in place in the event of an attack. Figen — who was supported on her crusade by murdered MP Jo Cox's husband, Brendan — will host a party at her home in the city this weekend for Martyn's pals to celebrate victory. She says: 'Martyn loved being with his friends and having a party. 'He died while doing that eight years ago. 'This Saturday, we will all gather and have a party for Martyn at our house, next to a tree we have planted for him — we'll have drinks, talk about him and rejoice in the fact that Martyn did not die in vain. 'I feel really guilty' 'This victory will save lives, I'm sure of it. 'This law will make everyone safer, whether at a large festival or a small recital.' She adds: 'People will not know their lives have been saved. 'Martyn's Law will be a silent saviour.' In an inspiring exclusive interview with The Sun, Figen reveals how she has now started having therapy, after putting her grief 'on hold' to campaign for new laws. She says: 'My self-care now is another way of honouring Martyn. 'I knew I couldn't address my grief until his law was passed.' Martyn's Law will see some of the country's biggest venues use pioneering 'mass screening technology' to scan crowds and identify potential threats who will be fully searched. Figen — who says big London sports stadia, as well as Manchester venues Bridgewater Hall and the Warehouse Project, are trialling the new system — adds: 'Mass screening technology is revolutionary for anti-terror security. 'Cameras trained on customers attending a venue can screen 1,000 to 2,000 people in one hour. 'It is a piece of equipment on either side of the entrance. 'You walk over a part that has a sensor underneath, and anybody with something suspicious lights up on a computer screen being looked at by a member of security. 'They then alert staff to search that person. 'They may have identified an umbrella, but it could equally have been a knife. 'I think this technology is brilliant. 'I think it will be widely available at all big venues in the years to come and will change everything.' Coronation Street superfan Martyn, 29, was on his farewell night out in the UK before he went travelling in America when tragedy struck. Evil Abedi, 22, detonated a bomb made of explosives, nuts and bolts that killed 22 Ariana Grande concert-goers, including Martyn, and maimed 1,000. Brave Figen made it her life's goal to change venues' anti-terror laws in the wake of the horror. Last month, after a gruelling six-and-a-half-year wait, the legislation was read out in the House of Commons before being rubber-stamped in the House of Lords. Martyn's Law will enforce anti-terror training for staff and tighter event security at venues, which includes more vigorous bag checks and body searches. 7 7 Premises that can accommodate more than 800 people will have to put in place measures such as CCTV or hire more security staff. Public premises where 200 to 799 people may gather — including nightclubs, churches and concert halls — must have plans to keep guests safe in the event of a terror attack happening at or near their location. Venues now have two years to get up to speed with the changes, which Figen insists will 'save lives'. I knew I had to do something to make sure other young people didn't suffer the same fate as my Martyn. After his death I went to one venue and was shocked at the lack of security. I thought: 'I need to do something – this isn't right Figen The determined mum retrained and achieved a degree in counterterrorism at the University of Central Lancashire before embarking on trips around the world to speak to others affected by terror attacks. She says: 'I knew I had to do something to make sure other young people didn't suffer the same fate as my Martyn. 'In the years after Martyn's death, I remember going to one venue in Manchester and being shocked about the lack of security there. 'I came away thinking, 'I need to do something, this isn't right'. 'In 2019, I started campaigning for Martyn's Law. 'I only intended it to be a six-month campaign.' The battle — aided by Survivors Against Terror founder Brendan Cox and former Met Police detective chief superintendent Nick Aldworth — took its toll on Figen mentally and physically, particularly her trek from Manchester Arena to Downing Street. She says: 'It was that walk that changed everything. 'It showed we meant business and that we were not going away. I sleep a lot better. However, I still struggle going to sleep before 11pm, because I just feel really, really guilty and ashamed that I was fast asleep and he was on the floor dying slowly, and I wasn't there to help him as a mum Figen 'I was promised that the law would be passed by Mr Starmer, and he kept his promise. 'However, I was in agony after that walk. 'I needed a hip replacement because of it.' Figen revealed that she has started sleeping better now as she is no longer troubled by concerns about whether Martyn's Law will be passed. But she still finds it hard to nod off before 11pm — which was roughly the time Martyn died — due to her lingering 'guilt'. She says: 'I sleep a lot better. 'However, I still struggle going to sleep before 11pm, because I just feel really, really guilty and ashamed that I was fast asleep and he was on the floor dying slowly, and I wasn't there to help him as a mum. 'I'm not sure that will ever change.' Figen has also started seeing a grief specialist, which she had avoided so she could channel all her energy into Martyn's Law. 'Raise a glass' She says: 'My self-care has to start now. 'I feel the counselling is also in memory of Martyn. 'I feel, after our victory, it's time to now slow down, grieve and help myself come to terms with what happened.' In the last couple of years, Figen has visited venues across the country to see how they intended to implement her son's law. She says: 'I get emails and messages from people saying, 'Oh, I am a teacher at a small school and we're talking about Martyn's Law in our staff meeting now'. 7 7 'Or people will say, 'We've just been to our small local venue, and they were talking about implementing Martyn's Law.' That's amazing. 'Bigger venues have got their act in order. 'It's not rocket science, is it? 'Get your CCTV sorted in big venues, and get your access control improved and more secure, and train yourself and your staff.' Figen said she was impressed by security at Manchester's new super-arena, the Co-Op Live. She also revealed the venue she had major concerns over — that inspired her crusade but which she is not naming — has 'cleared up its act'. Everybody felt their city was attacked. They have responded to Martyn's Law incredibly Figen Now, Figen wants the whole of the UK to follow Manchester's lead in already implementing steps to tighten security. She says: 'I think, when the attack happened, the Mancunians felt it as a personal attack on them. 'Everybody felt their city was attacked. 'They have responded to Martyn's Law incredibly. 'I urge venues to not wait for the whole two-year implementation period. 'Terrorists could strike at any time. 'Our terrorism threat level is substantial, which means an attack is highly likely — so let's not forget that. 'And the general public obviously don't understand. 'They're not bothered about threat levels, because it's not on their mind. 'It wasn't on mine before Martyn died.' She adds: 'My message is, 'Don't let terrorists pick your venue to attack because you haven't done what is needed'.' Figen said the pain of losing Martyn has never lessened. She reveals: 'I remember it as if it was last night. 'It was like slow motion. 'It doesn't feel like eight years ago, and the pain has not eased off. 'I've just not had time to indulge it or feel the emotions, because I didn't allow myself to until we had Martyn's Law. But I am now. 'There's a Martin-shaped hole in my heart now — deep, deep in my soul. 'It's like the abyss of grief. 'It never goes away.' Last weekend, Figen and her family gathered to watch the Eurovision Song Contest, a show which Martyn loved. But today's anniversary will be spent reflecting quietly at home. Then, on Saturday, friends and loved ones will gather in Figen's garden for a party in Martyn's honour. The proud mum said: 'I'll do a buffet, we'll sit next to the tree that we planted in his memory and we'll raise a glass to Martyn. 'And we'll say, 'This is the year we achieved something big in your name'.' 7
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
'I survived Manchester Arena attack - we need a memorial to recognise our loss'
Nearly 4,000 have lost their lives in terror atrocities in the UK since 1970, but there is no universal memorial to honour their agony - and families are demanding change in a new campaign backed by the Mirror Terror attack survivors and grieving families today demand a monument to remember victims in a new campaign backed by the Mirror. Nearly 4,000 have lost their lives in terror atrocities in the UK since 1970, but there is no universal memorial to honour their agony. As tomorrow marks eight years since the Manchester Arena bombing left 22 dead and more than a 1,000 injured and traumatised, victims are calling on the government to erect a physical tribute to ensure nobody is forgotten. Last night Brendan Cox, whose Labour MP wife Jo Cox was murdered by a terrorist in 2016, backed our fight and said: 'What we remember as a society matters - and the lack of a monument to honour victims of terror attacks has made many survivors feel like they don't count.' In March, security minister Dan Jarvis launched a landmark consultation for a National Remembrance Day for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism, which is due to close next month, but this does not include plans for a physical shrine. Survivors say a memorial should be erected as part of the day to act as a focal point for remembrance events, not dissimilar to the Cenotaph war memorial in central London. Manchester survivor Abi Quinn, who was just 12 when she narrowly missed terrorist Salman Abedi's explosion and is still in therapy for the trauma, said: 'As someone directly impacted by terrorism, and knowing how long the effects can last, we need a memorial to recognise the pain and the loss we're still dealing with. It's so important to keep the memory and our voices alive. Key terror attacks in the UK 21 November 1974: Birmingham pub bombings - IRA bombs exploded in two pubs in Birmingham, killing 21 people and injuring 182. 21 December 1988: Lockerbie disaster - Pan Am Flight 103 was blown up while in flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 passengers and crew and 11 Lockerbie residents. 20 March 1993: Warrington bomb attacks - two bombs exploded in litter bins in a shopping precinct in Warrington, Cheshire, killing a three-year-old boy and injuring 55 people. July 7 2005 - 7/7 London bombings – conducted by four separate Islamist extremist suicide bombers. 52 killed and around 700 more were injured. 22 May 2013: British soldier Lee Rigby murdered in Woolwich, southeast London, by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, two Islamist extremists. 16 June 2016: Labour MP Jo Cox murdered by white nationalist Thomas Mair outside her constituency surgery in Birstall, West Yorks. 22 March 2017: Westminster attack – Islamist extremist Khalid Masood drove a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in London, killing three and injuring almost fifty, one of whom died two weeks later. 22 May 2017: Manchester Arena attack – suicide bomber Salman Abedi detonated a homemade explosive device as people were leaving an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 and injuring 1,017. 3 June 2017: London Bridge attack – three Islamist extremists drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before stabbing people in and around pubs in nearby Borough Market. Eight people were killed and at least 48 wounded. 29 November 2019: Fishmongers' Hall attack (London Bridge) – Islamist extremist Usman Khan fatally stabbed two people and injured two more at an event for reformed prisoners. 14 May 2010: MP Stephen Timms stabbed during a constituency surgery by Roshonara Choudhry, a British Islamic extremist. 15 October 2021: Conservative MP David Amess was fatally stabbed by terrorist Ali Harbi Ali at his constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. "It's not just about remembering who we've lost, but it's about knowing we're not forgotten and we've not been cast aside and brushed under the carpet.' Abi, a criminology student at the University of Liverpool, said organising a memorial and commemorative events should not be the responsibility of survivors and grieving families. She continued: 'It's hard enough for us to just come to terms with what we've been through; we shouldn't also be burdened with the pressure of figuring out a way to remember. It makes our pain that bit more difficult.' Statues honouring those who lost their lives in specific terror attacks already exist, including the 7/7 memorial in London's Hyde Park, the Glade of Light in Manchester and the national memorial for British victims of overseas terrorism in Lichfield, Staffs. But survivors and the bereaved say a physical tribute to every UK terror victim is vital in representing the sheer scale of suffering. Paul Price, who lost his partner Elaine in the Manchester Arena attack and sustained life-changing injuries, said: 'Terror attacks not only affect the bereaved, victims and survivors, it's an attack on everyone, it's an attack on the state - so having a physical memorial would be very healing to the country as a whole. 'When an attack like Manchester happens, it's front page news for weeks and then quickly becomes yesterday's news - but for the bereaved and survivors, the pain is ongoing forever.' Paul, who will remember Elaine today (THURS) by enjoying a meal with her friends, added that a physical memorial would also act as a reminder of the ongoing threat of terrorism. Although it's something we don't like to think about, there have been terrorist attacks in the UK for decades, and sadly, there will be more.' Michelle Jones, whose daughter Saskia, 23, was murdered in the Fishmongers' Hall attack on London Bridge in November 2019, agrees. She added: 'It [a physical memorial] would serve as a visual reminder to the general public of the impact of terrorism and its consequences. It has taken too many years for a memorial and we are still waiting. 'Saskia died as a victim of an attack on the State. A physical memorial predominantly ensures our loved ones are not forgotten and it would act as a central point for us all to come together and find support in the healing process, as well as representing our strength and resilience. 'Although this consultation for a day of remembrance is a good start, it is my hope that a physical memorial will be actioned by the Government as a matter of urgency. They owe it to those we have lost as well as the people who continue to struggle on a daily basis.' Calls for a physical monument for terror victims were first made in 2018 as part of a Survivors' Charter by Survivors Against Terror, a network of people impacted by terror attacks. In a report by the organisation, an IPSOS survey revealed 78% of respondents would support a monument. The Charter's other demands include a day of remembrance, which is currently under government consultation, and an addition to the UK honours system, which would recognise the sacrifice of those injured or bereaved by terrorism. Survivors Against Terror last night backed our campaign and said: 'Victims of terror attacks aren't picked for who they are - but as innocent representatives of our country. That means the government has a particular responsibility to honour their memory and a permanent memorial is a good place to start.' On May 22, 2017, terrorist Salman Abedi detonated a makeshift explosive device as more than 14,000 people left the Manchester Arena venue after an Ariana Grande concert. The blast left 22 innocent people dead – including eight-year-old Saffie Rose Roussos. A memorial would also bring solace to those impacted by historic attacks. These include the Birmingham IRA pub bombings on November 1, 1974, which killed 21 and injured 182. Fourteen years later in 1988, 243 passengers, 16 crew members and 11 residents were killed when terrorists detonated a bomb on board Pan Am Flight 103 as it flew over the Scottish town of Lockerbie. In July 1990, Conservative MP Ian Gow was assassinated by the IRA when a booby trap bomb exploded under his car outside his home in East Sussex. Three years later in 1993, IRA bombs were detonated in several locations across Warrington, Cheshire, killing a three-year-old boy and 55 others. In April 1999, terrorist David Copeland set off three nail bombs in London targeting the black, Bangladeshi and gay communities, killing three people, including a pregnant woman, and injuring 129. And in May 2013, British soldier Lee Rigby was murdered in Woolwich, southeast London, by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, two Islamist extremists armed with a handgun, knives and a cleaver. The government was approached for comment.
