Neon’s Moment In The Commons

Parliament is not usually the stage for design debates. Tax and trade dominate the agenda. One late night in Westminster, the subject was neon. Labour’s Yasmin Qureshi, delivered a striking intervention. Her message was clear: hand-bent glass filled with noble gas is artistry. She contrasted it with cheap LED substitutes, noting they erase tradition. Marketing should not blur the definition. Chris McDonald, MP for Stockton North, sharing his own commissioning of neon art in Teesside.

The benches responded warmly. Statistics gave weight to the passion. Only 27 full-time neon benders remain in Britain. No apprentices follow. Without action, a century-old craft may die. Ideas were floated for a protection act, like Cornish pasties. Defend the craft. Even the DUP weighed in, pointing to industry growth. Reports show 7.5% annual growth. His point: heritage and commerce can co-exist. The final word fell to Chris Bryant.

He played with glow metaphors, lightening the mood. Yet beneath the levity, he acknowledged the case. He listed Britain’s neon landmarks: Tracey Emin’s installations. He argued neon can outlast LEDs. Where lies the problem? The issue is clarity. LED products are marketed as neon. That threatens heritage. A question of honest labelling. If Harris Tweed must be Hebridean, then craft deserves recognition.

This was about culture. Do we allow heritage skills to disappear? Our position is clear: real neon matters. The Commons was illuminated. No law has passed yet. But the spotlight has been lit. If MPs can recognise craft, so can homeowners. Look past cheap imitations. Support artisans.


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