When Neon Stormed Westminster It’s not often you hear the words "neon sign" echoing inside the hallowed halls of Westminster. But on a late evening in May 2025, Britain’s lawmakers did just that. Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton South and Walkden took the floor neon lights store to champion the endangered craft of glass-bent neon. She cut through with clarity: real neon is culture, and the market is being flooded with false neon pretenders. She reminded the House: £30 LED strips do not belong in the same sentence as neon craftsmanship.
another MP backed the case, noting his support for neon as an artistic medium. The mood in the chamber was almost electric—pun intended. Numbers told the story. The craft has dwindled from hundreds to barely two dozen. There are zero new apprentices. The idea of a certification mark or British Standard was floated. From the Strangford seat came a surprising ally, armed with market forecasts, saying the neon sign market could hit $3.3 billion by 2031. His point: there’s room for craft and commerce to thrive together.
Closing the debate, Chris Bryant had his say. Even ministers can’t help glowing wordplay, earning laughter across the floor. Behind the quips, he admitted the case was strong. Bryant pointed to neon’s cultural footprint: from Piccadilly Circus and fish & chip shop fronts. He noted neon’s sustainability—glass and gas beat plastic LED. So what’s the issue? The truth is simple: retailers blur the lines by calling LED neon. That kills trust. It’s no different to protecting Cornish pasties or Harris Tweed.
If it’s not distilled in Scotland, it’s not Scotch. The debate was more than just policy—it was culture vs copycat. Do we let homogenisation kill character in the name of convenience? At Smithers, we know the answer: glass and gas belong in your world, not just LED copycats. So yes, Westminster talked neon. Nothing’s been signed off, the case has been made. And if MPs can argue for real neon under the oak-panelled glare of the House, you can sure as hell hang one in your lounge, shop neon lights office, or bar.
Skip the LED wannabes. If you want authentic neon, handmade the way it’s meant to be, you know where to find it. Parliament’s been lit—now it’s your turn.
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