The Commons is rarely a forum for craft. Budgets, healthcare, international relations. On a spring evening this year, MPs were talking about light. Ms Qureshi, brought heritage into the chamber. Her message was uncompromising: hand-bent glass filled with noble gas is artistry. She criticised the flood of LED strips, arguing they dilute the name neon. Only gas-filled tubes deserve the title. Chris McDonald, MP for Stockton North, speaking of local artists.

There was broad recognition. Numbers framed the urgency. The UK now counts fewer than thirty artisans. No new entrants are learning. Without action, Britain could lose neon entirely. Qureshi proposed legal recognition, modelled on Champagne. Protect the name. Support also came from Jim Shannon, DUP, adding an economic perspective. Neon remains a growth sector. His point: authentic craft has future potential.

Closing remarks came from Chris Bryant, Minister for Creative Industries. He allowed himself puns, lightening the mood. Yet beneath the levity, he admitted neon’s value. He cited neon’s cultural impact: the riot of God’s Own Junkyard. He emphasised longevity. Where lies the problem? The issue is clarity. LED products are marketed as neon. That diminishes value. A question of honest labelling. If Champagne must be French, then craft deserves recognition.

This was about identity. Do we accept homogenised plastic across every street? Our position is clear: real neon matters. Westminster glowed for a night. No law has passed yet. But the case is stronger than ever. If MPs can recognise craft, so can homeowners. Reject plastic strips. Choose neon.