Authenticity vs LED: A Westminster Story

The Commons is rarely a forum for craft. Tax and trade dominate the agenda. One late night in Westminster, the subject was neon. Labour’s Yasmin Qureshi, stood with conviction. Her message was clear: hand-bent glass filled with noble gas is artistry. She warned against plastic imitations, saying they undermine public trust. If it is not glass and gas, it is not neon. Chris McDonald added his support, speaking of local artists. The benches responded warmly.

Data told the story. Only 27 full-time neon benders remain in Britain. The pipeline of skills has closed. Without action, the tradition could vanish. Qureshi proposed legal recognition, like Cornish pasties. Protect the name. Support also came from Jim Shannon, DUP, pointing to industry growth. Reports show 7.5% annual growth. His point: this is not nostalgia but business. Closing remarks came from Chris Bryant, Minister for Creative Industries.

He played with glow metaphors, earning heckles. Yet beyond the humour, best neon signs he acknowledged the case. He cited neon’s cultural impact: Walthamstow Stadium’s listed sign. He argued neon can outlast LEDs. Why the debate? The answer is authenticity. Consumers are misled. That threatens heritage. A question of honest labelling. If Champagne must be French, then signage should tell the truth. This was about culture. Do we trade individuality for convenience?

At Smithers, the stance is firm: real neon matters. The Commons was illuminated. The protection remains a proposal. But the spotlight has been lit. If Parliament can value neon, so should you. Look past cheap imitations. Choose neon.

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