Neon Sign The Debate

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Revision as of 09:50, 8 August 2025 by SheilaHamlett74 (talk | contribs) (Created page with "On 6 May 2025, the House of Commons took time out from its daily business to spotlight neon signage. Yasmin Qureshi MP for Bolton South and Walkden brought up this issue during an Adjournment Debate by drawing attention to a craft facing extinction: neon sign-making--making an impassioned plea to preserve Britain's glowing heritage. Reddit posted +5, hansardsociety.org.uk +5 and uksignboards.com +5. Additionally Hansard added 2 extra speakers before adjournment Debate wa...")
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On 6 May 2025, the House of Commons took time out from its daily business to spotlight neon signage. Yasmin Qureshi MP for Bolton South and Walkden brought up this issue during an Adjournment Debate by drawing attention to a craft facing extinction: neon sign-making--making an impassioned plea to preserve Britain's glowing heritage. Reddit posted +5, hansardsociety.org.uk +5 and uksignboards.com +5. Additionally Hansard added 2 extra speakers before adjournment Debate was called off! On May 6th 2025 the House paused their busy business as Yasmin Qureshi took the floor for Adjournment Debate by drawing their attention towards this craft which is in danger of disappearance due to digitalisation. She invoked their attention through an Adjournment debate which garnered +5.
Qureshi opened by grounding his argument in history: neon was discovered in England in 1898 by Sir William Ramsay and Morris Travers and its introduction became the basis for bright icons ranging from Piccadilly Circus' bright glow to Times Square's shimmering splendour, according to Hansard.
Neon Creations, run by artisans Tony and Catherine Spink, honors her legacy not just through nostalgia. Since 2005, their craftspeople have practiced true craftsmanship by bending glass tubes, filling them with gas, and fashioning each sign by hand for YouTube, Hansard, uksignboards.com etc.
Qureshi warned of an imminent threat to light artistry due to cheap, mass-produced LED "neon" imitations flooding the market marketed misrepresenting themselves as neon. Such products undermine both consumer expectations and the livelihood of genuine neon artisans, she stressed.

"Any sign not made of glass and filled with gas cannot be considered neon." UKsignboards.com. [Hansard].
As these counterfeit signs duped customers into purchasing and later seeking "repairs" from Neon Creations, further strain was put upon skilled artisans. Neon is more than advertising; it has an important cultural and artistic value.
Qureshi broadened the discussion beyond commerce to cultural relevance by reciting lyrics from reggae legends: she brought authenticity into the conversation by reading their words aloud.

"Life is one big road with lots of signs"
--illuminating how neon is part of America's light-filled identity (99% Invisible +5 Hansard +5 uksignboards.com +5).
She cited artworks by Tracey Emin, Chila Kumari Singh Burman and webpage [Check This Out] Martin Creed whose neon works can be found everywhere from Tate Britain to Tate Modern. She highlighted its dual use as both advertisement and art - both simultaneously. A debate ensued that acknowledged neon's dual roles as both advertisement and art within British streets and galleries alike - Hansard (+1).
Qureshi highlighted both the economic significance and symbolic meaning of creative industries - estimated at nearly PS124 billion each year - including neon lights which play both symbolic and economic roles within this greater ecosystem, according to Hansard. Treibitz offered policy solutions while providing consumer clarity.
Importantly, the MP didn't just lament the decline of craft - she called for action:

Planning protections and cultural preservation funds could protect neon signs in high streets and urban landscapes.

She encouraged neon artisans to become actively engaged with the UK's "living heritage" inventories, drawing attention to neon as a craft worthy of official recognition as part of the living heritage.

She stressed the need for greater consumer transparency, noting how many LED fakes are mislabeled as neon, confusing buyers and devaluing authenticity. She advocated strengthening trademark policies across Whitehall to protect key terms like "neon." This information can be found at Hansard +2 and UKsignboards.com respectively.
As evidence of heritage signage's importance, she noted that Walthamstow Stadium's neon entrance sign has already been listed as Grade II architectural heritage and serves as an indicator that such items should be seen as architectural heritage. Hansard.1.2 A Flicker to Keep Alive
Qureshi's passionate closing statement captures the core of this debate:

The government acknowledges the case being made for neon signage--not as a frivolous gimmick or indulgence, but as an essential thread of British creativity. Hansard.
At its heart, neon's glow reveals an important truth: craftsmanship matters. By protecting neon, we honour artisans, artists, and urban narratives that contribute to making Britain unique as cultural landscapes.