House Of Commons Glow-Up: Authenticity Vs LED Fakes In The Commons
Z Rozdíly.cz
When Neon Stormed Westminster
Few debates in Parliament ever shine as bright as the one about neon signage. But on a spring night in the Commons, Britain’s lawmakers did just that.
Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi stood up and lit the place up with a speech defending neon sign makers. Her argument was simple but fierce: glass and gas neon is an art form, and the market is being flooded with false neon pretenders.
She declared without hesitation: £30 LED strips do not belong in the same sentence as neon craftsmanship.
another MP backed the case, noting his support for neon signs London as an artistic medium. The mood in the chamber was almost electric—pun intended.
Facts gave weight to the emotion. 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.
Even the DUP’s Jim Shannon joined in, citing growth reports, noting global neon growth at 7.5% a year. The glow also means serious money.
Closing the debate, Chris Bryant had his say. Even ministers can’t help glowing wordplay, and Madam Deputy Speaker shot back with "sack them". Behind the quips, he admitted the case was strong.
He reminded MPs that neon is etched into Britain’s memory: from Piccadilly Circus and fish & chip shop fronts. He noted neon’s sustainability—glass and gas beat plastic LED.
Why all this talk? The glow is fading: retailers blur the lines by calling LED neon. That hurts artisans.
It’s no different to protecting Cornish pasties or Harris Tweed. If it’s not distilled in Scotland, it’s not Scotch.
In that chamber, the question was authenticity itself. Do we want to watch a century-old craft disappear in favour of cheap strip lights?
At Smithers, we know the answer: authentic glow beats plastic glow every time.
Parliament literally debated neon heritage. The outcome isn’t law yet, the case has been made.
If they can debate neon with a straight face in Parliament, then maybe it’s time your walls got the real thing.
Forget the fakes. Your space deserves the real deal, not mass-produced mediocrity.
Parliament’s been lit—now it’s your turn.
