UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Pays Tribute to Campaigners, Highlights Landmark Justice Reforms Ahead of Departure.
London:
The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer today paid an emotional tribute to campaigners, victims’ families and stakeholders who have worked alongside his government to secure major legal reforms, saying their determination had shaped both his leadership and some of the most significant legislation enacted during his tenure.
Speaking at a stakeholder event attended by campaigners in the Downing Street garden, the Prime Minister thanked those who had transformed personal tragedy into lasting legal change. He said the “fingerprints” of those present were evident across many of the government’s achievements, describing their contributions as central to reforms aimed at protecting future generations.
Among those recognised was Nour Norris, whose niece Raneem Oudeh and sister Khaola Saleem were murdered in a domestic abuse case after police failed to respond adequately to emergency calls. The Prime Minister said their campaign led to Raneem’s Law, which introduces independent domestic abuse specialists to assist police handling 999 calls, a reform he said would save lives.
He also praised Figen Murray, whose son Martyn Hett was killed in the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack. Her campaign resulted in Martyn’s Law, requiring public venues and events to implement stronger security measures and emergency preparedness against terrorism.
The Prime Minister further acknowledged Pooja Kanda, whose 16-year-old son Ronan was killed with a ninja sword. He recalled meeting her years earlier, saying her campaign exposed serious failures in the online sale of dangerous weapons. Ronan’s Law, now enacted, bans ninja swords and introduces stricter controls on online knife sales to prevent weapons from reaching minors and vulnerable individuals.
Highlighting broader reforms, the Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of the newly introduced Hillsborough Law, which establishes a legal Duty of Candour requiring public authorities to act honestly and transparently during investigations and public inquiries. He described the measure as essential to ensuring accountability and preventing institutional cover-ups.
Reflecting on past national tragedies, the Prime Minister said the Hillsborough disaster, the Grenfell Tower fire, the Windrush scandal, child grooming cases and the Post Office Horizon scandal all revealed recurring patterns of institutional failure. He argued that victims were too often ignored because they belonged to communities that were “overlooked” or “disregarded,” stressing that justice must be available equally to everyone regardless of their background.
He said the reforms introduced by his government would continue protecting people for decades, benefiting future generations who may never know the campaigners responsible for those changes.
In an emotional conclusion, the Prime Minister said he was proud to have fulfilled promises made to many of the families present during his time in office. As he prepares to leave office next week, he pledged to continue supporting their pursuit of justice, saying he would “stand with you and walk with you, as long as I’ve got breath in my body.”
