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news
Firework selection box (licensed CC BY-3.0 on Wikimedia Commons by Firework Shop - Tony).PNGMP reveals she had firework thrown at her while cycling home from Parliament
A Labour MP has revealed that she had a firework thrown at her by youths as she rode her bike home from Parliament, and has backed a petition calling for their sale to the public to be banned in England and their use confined to licensed public displays.
Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate yesterday tabled by Elliot Colburn, the Conservative MP for Carshalton and Wallington, on the sale and use of fireworks, Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central and Shadow Minister for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport recounted how it was only by braking sharply when the pyrotechnic was thrown at her three years ago that she managed to avoid it.
“It was in 1605 that my former constituent, Mr Guy Fawkes, came to this place to misuse fireworks,” she began (the Gunpowder plotter’s birthplace, opposite York Minster, is now a popular hotel and pub that bears his name).
“That is why I am making a speech today to call for an end to that practice,” Maskell, who is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cycling and Walking, continued.
“Not only have many of my constituents written to me, including veterans, families who have experienced autism and other mental health conditions, and animal lovers, but 714 of my constituents signed the petition, calling for fireworks to be used only in properly licensed public displays.
“We have to remember that at this time of year our precious NHS, which is overstretched, sees about 2,000 injuries arriving through its doors, 600 of those affecting children, and deals with about 35 inquiries about burns in relation to both Diwali and bonfire night,” she went on.
“Our public servants are often a target for people who misuse fireworks. Indeed, only three years ago, I was cycling home from Parliament when young people who were playing with fireworks threw one at me. It was only because I reacted in nanoseconds, slamming on my brakes, that it missed me. If it had hit – it exploded as it hit the ground – who knows what the history would have been?
Every year, cycling on that section of my route, I fear what could happen. That brought home how serious the issue is, so we absolutely have to protect the public. When I called the police, they told me that an incident had previously occurred on the very same spot that night, but they did not have time to attend, which highlights the reasons why legislation needs to be introduced from the top – from the Minister – to change the fortunes of others.”
A private member’s bill on the Misuse of Fireworks has been introduced to Parliament by Labour MP for Luton North, Sarah Owen.
Responding for the government, Paul Scully, MP for Sutton and Cheam and Minister of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said he would examine whether current licenses permitting the sale of fireworks could be tightened.
“The police, local authorities, and other local agencies have a range of tools and powers that they can use to respond quickly and effectively to antisocial behaviour, including the antisocial use of fireworks, through the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014,” he added.
“Local areas can decide how best to deploy the powers in the 2014 Act depending on the specific circumstances.”
But Maskell, calling for “proper enforcement” to be put in place, told him: “The example from my personal circumstances showed the Minister that the Act is completely ineffective, and therefore people are being put at risk every single day from fireworks being lobbed by young people who should not possess them.”
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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38 comments
No, I work out.
Oh I agree entirely with stopping sale of fireworks to the general public. I was suggesting higher standards before allowing peple to buy cars. Which after all kill and injure many more people every year than fireworks.
but no matter how crap someone proves to be at using cars, there is no apetite for stopping them from using cars.
Definitely agreed
Why is a ban on the sale of fireworks to 'the public' even controversial?
To be clear I am more than happy to ban fireworks sale to the public, they are incredibly dangerous and should be regulated. And even when treated with respect thigs can happen.
I remember when I was growing up we used to have fireworks at the flats where I lived, everyone would contribute and there was a communal feel. It was certanly not being treated casually or recklessly (obviously not a professional display, but hardly teenagers messing about). Nevertheless one year something happened and a rocket nearly hit someone, to the point that she felt burning on her head. That was the end of those displays.
My complaint is that no matter how crap smeone is at driving it seems the courts will allow them to continue. People can take the driving test as many times they like as soon as they like after failing until they get lucky and nothing too taxing occurs on the test.
Roughly 900 fireworks injuries per year, 1800 road deaths, 22,000 serious injuries on the roads.
Back in Northern Ireland not only the seller needs to hold a licence to be able to sell but the buyer needs to hold a licence the cost of which varies depending on the audience size. Many years ago you needed to obtain a temporary firearms licence to be able to use pyrotechnics for stage shows. For obvious reasons things are a bit more stringent there than in GB where you just need to prove you're over eighteen. The availability of fireworks on this part of the U.K. really needs a huge overhaul
It seems to me the NI have it right. It's the rest of the UK that is lagging....
That doesn't often happen .
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