LIBERAL Democrat leader Tim Farron has called on the nation to 'stand together' and avoid 'pointing the finger' on his visit to the Peace Centre following the Manchester bombing.

Mr Farron made his way to the site, off Cromwell Avenue, this afternoon, Friday, following the atrocity on Monday night.

The 46-year-old toured the venue while speaking to Colin and Wendy Parry, founders of the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace, as well as chief executive Nick Taylor.

Many of the victims are already being supported by the charity, which was set up after the tragic deaths of 12-year-old Tim Parry and three-year-old Johnathan Ball following the IRA bombing in Warrington town centre in March 1993.

Mr Farron said: "This is an inspirational centre.

"This is a wonderful example for the whole country about how we respond by standing together to the unspeakable violence that we saw the other night.

"It is about understanding and talking to people and finding different avenues for them.

"The main point I take away from here is two things.

"First of all, peace creation and violence prevention work really does work.

"The impact of the Foundation for Peace over the last 20 years or so has been that in communities that were fractured, in communities where violence was being fostered, whether in Northern Ireland, whether somewhere else in the country, or whether overseas, working with those communities and individuals at risk of being radicalised works and the evidence is there.

"The other thing we need to remember is that there is something utterly critical about us standing together as a community.

"Some people might say they are soft words but, actually, that kindness and collective sense of common endeavour, in light of what happened on Monday night for example, actually works and it is right.

"It is politically the right response because a terrorist should not be permitted to win.

"But it is also emotionally the right response as it helps us to cope and make a difference and it helps us to stay together.

"You don't need to be personally in Manchester to be seriously affected by this attack on our children."

Westmorland and Lonsdale parliamentary candidate Mr Farron said it was key that the Government avoided any 'knee-jerk' responses to the incident.

He also commented on the Government's decision to deploy the Army on the streets of the nation.

"We obviously don't want to be in a situation where there is a sense of a need for that kind of presence on the streets," he added.

"The key thing that has been picked up in the last couple of days is the need to not over-politicise this and the need to not go around pointing the finger.

"That is not the way to solve this problem or help us move forward as a country.

"It is important for politicians to resist the temptation to score points.

"We always need to look at how we can make ourselves safer as a country and how we can tackle violence.

"This is a time when we as a country genuinely need to stand together."


The foundation is leading the #WeStandTogether campaign through the Survivors Assistance Network.

The network provides free, practical and emotional support to anyone who has been affected by a terrorist incident.

Home secretary Amber Rudd has also paid a visit to the Peace Centre to witness the work of the foundation after it set up a crisis centre in the wake of the explosion at the start of the week.

Mr Parry joined the panel of BBC Question Time during last night's show in Salford.

He tweeted: "Facing an intelligent audience asking intelligent questions in tense times is tough but vital if we're to beat intolerance and hatred."

Prayers and a minute's silence were held at the Golden Gates to pay respects to the victims of the atrocity on Wednesday.

The bomb blast at Manchester Arena killed 22 people and left many more injured.

It was Mr Farron's second appearance in the town in two weeks following a visit to Latchford on May 13.

To find out more about the work of the foundation and how you can help make a difference visit foundation4peace.org.