Ilse Badger

Parliament is not usually the stage for design debates. Budgets, healthcare, international relations. One late night in Westminster, MPs were talking about light. Yasmin Qureshi, Labour MP for Bolton South and Walkden, stood with conviction. Her message was clear: hand-bent glass filled with noble gas is artistry. She criticised the flood of LED strips, arguing they dilute the name neon. If it is not glass and gas, it is not neon. Another Labour voice joined, sharing his own commissioning of neon art in Teesside.

There was broad recognition. Numbers framed the urgency. From hundreds, the number has fallen to a few dozen. No apprentices follow. Without action, the tradition could vanish. Qureshi proposed legal recognition, modelled on Champagne. Defend the craft. Support also came from Jim Shannon, DUP, pointing to industry growth. Forecasts predict $3.3bn market by 2031. His point: heritage and commerce can co-exist.

Chris Bryant concluded the session. He played with glow metaphors, drawing laughter. Yet beneath the levity, he acknowledged the case. He listed Britain’s neon landmarks: the riot of God’s Own Junkyard. He emphasised longevity. What is at stake? The answer is authenticity. LED products are marketed as neon. That erodes trust. It is no different to whisky or Champagne. If Champagne must be French, then signage should tell the truth.

The debate mattered beyond signage. Do we trade individuality for convenience? Our position is clear: glass and gas still matter. So yes, Parliament discussed neon. No law has passed yet. But the case is stronger than ever. If Parliament can value neon, so should you. Reject plastic strips. Support artisans.

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