Parliament is not usually the stage for design debates. Budgets, healthcare, international relations. One late night in Westminster, the subject was neon. Yasmin Qureshi, Labour MP for Bolton South and Walkden, delivered a striking intervention. Her message was direct: hand-bent glass filled with noble gas is artistry. She contrasted it with cheap LED substitutes, arguing they dilute the name neon. Only gas-filled tubes deserve the title. Chris McDonald, MP for Stockton North, positioning neon as regional creativity.

The benches responded warmly. Numbers framed the urgency. The UK now counts fewer than thirty artisans. No apprentices follow. Without action, Britain could lose neon entirely. Ideas were floated for a protection act, like Cornish pasties. Defend the craft. Support also came from Jim Shannon, DUP, pointing to industry growth. Forecasts predict $3.3bn market by 2031. His point: authentic craft has future potential. Chris Bryant concluded the session. He allowed himself puns, lightening the mood.

Yet after the laughter, he acknowledged the case. He listed Britain’s neon landmarks: Tracey Emin’s installations. He emphasised longevity. Why the debate? The answer is authenticity. Craft is undermined. That erodes trust. Comparable to food and textile protections. If Champagne must be French, then signage should tell the truth. The debate mattered beyond signage. Do we trade individuality for convenience? We hold no doubt: glass and gas still matter. The Commons was illuminated.

The Act is still to come. But the campaign is alive. If Parliament can value neon, so should you. Look past cheap imitations. Support artisans.