Comment: Why we must remember 7/7

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

But three years on, the families of those killed still have not had the closure of an inquest: it has been postponed until the end of the trials of all those connected with the bombings. As we report today some of the bombers are still feted in Pakistan: the uncle of Shehzad Tanweer is holding a party to celebrate this "martyr's" life.

Worse, it beggars belief that some victims of the bombings should still be awaiting payments from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. Last December, the Commons Public Accounts committee said that the slow working of the authority "adds to people's woes". It cited figures showing that 143 of the 635 claims submitted in connection with the bombings still have to be resolved, including 99 cases where the applicants have received nothing at all. It is astonishing, given that, shortly after the attacks, Tony Blair promised to expedite payments to the victims and Gordon Brown topped up the compensation fund to £8 million. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has called on the Minister for London, Tessa Jowell, to deal with the delays; this matter surely has moral priority over her Olympic responsibilities.

Given the bureaucracy that affects the workings of state-funded compensation it is just as well that the fund set up by the then Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, together with this paper, was so much quicker in delivering assistance to victims. Some people who are eligible for compensation are surviving on interim payments. Three years after the event, this is utterly unacceptable.