Parliament is not usually the stage for design debates. Budgets, healthcare, international relations. Yet in May 2025, MPs were talking about light. Ms Qureshi, brought heritage into the chamber. Her message was direct: real neon is both craft and culture. She warned against plastic imitations, arguing they dilute the name neon. Marketing should not blur the definition. Chris McDonald added his support, sharing his own commissioning of neon art in Teesside. Cross-party nodding followed.

Statistics gave weight to the passion. From hundreds, the number has fallen to a few dozen. No apprentices follow. Without action, a century-old craft may die. Ideas were floated for a protection act, like Cornish pasties. Protect the name. Support also came from Jim Shannon, DUP, bringing a commercial lens. Neon remains a growth sector. His point: this is not nostalgia but business. Closing remarks came from Chris Bryant, Minister for Creative Industries.

He teased the chamber with jokes, lightening the mood. Yet beneath the levity, he admitted neon’s value. He recalled iconic glows: the riot of God’s Own Junkyard. He emphasised longevity. What is at stake? The answer is authenticity. Consumers are misled. That threatens heritage. It is no different to whisky or Champagne. If Harris Tweed must be Hebridean, then signage should tell the truth. The debate mattered beyond signage. Do we allow heritage skills to disappear?

At Smithers, neon lights the stance is firm: authentic glow endures. So yes, Parliament discussed neon. The protection remains a proposal. But the case is stronger than ever. If MPs can recognise craft, so can homeowners. Reject plastic strips. Choose neon.