Ilse Badger

Few times in history have we heard the words neon sign echo inside the House of Parliament. Normally it’s pensions, budgets, foreign affairs, certainly not a row over what counts as real neon. But on a spring night after 10pm, Britain’s lawmakers did just that. the formidable Ms Qureshi delivered a passionate case for neon. Her pitch was sharp: authentic neon is heritage, and plastic pretenders are killing the craft.

She hammered the point: only gas-filled glass tubes qualify as neon. Chris McDonald, MP for Stockton North with his own support. Even the sceptics were glowing. Facts carried the weight. Only 27 full-time neon benders remain in the UK. The next generation isn’t coming. Ideas for certification marks were floated. Surprisingly, the DUP had neon fever too. He brought the numbers, saying the industry has serious value.

His point was blunt: this isn’t nostalgia, it’s business. Closing was Chris Bryant, Minister for Creative Industries. He couldn’t resist glowing wordplay, getting teased by Madam Deputy Speaker. But the government was listening. He cited neon’s cultural footprint: Tracey Emin artworks. He stressed neon lasts longer than LED. What’s the fight? Because fake LED "neon" floods the market. That erases trust. Think Champagne. If champagne must come from France, why not neon?.

The glow was cultural, not procedural. Do we let a century-old craft vanish? We’re biased but right: gas and glass win every time. The Commons went neon. It’s still early days, but the case has been made. If it belongs in the Commons, it belongs in your home. Bin the LED strips. Support the craft.

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