Martin Lewis did a poll a few days ago asking, “Should fireworks be allowed to be sold for private (non organised display) use? … Many supermarkets no longer sell fireworks over safety concerns but private individuals can buy them elsewhere.” This is a broad mix of people who follow him, so a good, generic mix. 56,409 people responded. The results?

73% voted to “ban sales”. Only 27% wanted to “allow sales”. Out of 56,409 people!

This is not surprising. We’ve seen it in many polls over the years. Fireworks are no longer occasional. They’re allowed every day of the year until 11pm and some days until 1am. And they do go off any day of the year. They’re noisy, disturb the peace for many and are detrimental, damaging and deadly for many others, as we’ve covered in so many of our fireworks blogs. Why we’re not surprised?

Because we’ve had a massive 5 debates in parliament because 6 petitions reached over 100,000 signatures. Also over 1 million people have signed the change.org petition. Elliot Colburn, MP, said at the last debate, that he polled his constituents. 75,000 answered and 89% supported a complete ban of sales to the public. This is the current government petition to sign. We’re going to look into this more. But the question is this:

Why – when so many issues can get swiftly put through by the government to change laws, with far fewer or any petitions from the people – are these continually ignored? And the usual patter that they think they are used responsibly. What is going on? Why are the people not listened to?

Why not email your MP and ask them. Share this blog and ask if they can help. We’d be delighted to hear their thoughts.

The trouble is, if you look at the law, they’re used according to it a lot of the time. That’s because the law is so incredibly loose – any day of the year until 11pm – and is not up-to-date with a society which can get hold of them easily and at low cost. No wonder the government can say they’re used accordingly! You can hear some close by, that wake you in the night. If it’s before 11pm (when most have gone to bed), but you’re still asleep, the law allows that. Huh? Don’t we always read of the health benefits of sleep? If they are after that time, are you able to get out of bed, in your jim jams (!), run round all the houses and identify which house in probably miles around you, let it off? Really…?

With so many debates, so many petitions, the government could be hoping the public will go quiet. And this is a challenge. Why, when you signed 6 petitions and they didn’t come to anything, would you keep doing so? It’s like children to a cruel parent. Like Oliver Twist asking for more porridge but being repeatedly turned down. Is that what they hope will happen? Don’t we talk proudly of our democratic system, around the world? What kind of democracy is this? What kind of society allows people, animals and the environment to be continually punished – and when clearly the majority want change?

If you want change, DON’T GIVE UP. The government will have to listen. If not this, then the next. This could be a vote influencer in the next election. You are not in a minority. The opposite. If you want to bring about change, you aren’t the only one. Most of the population agree.

• Sign and share petitions. This is a the current one for 2023.
• Share this blog in every group you are in on social media and in emails – particularly those not related to fireworks, to reach new audiences
• There have been 5 debates, 6 petitions with over 100,000 signatures each, a Petitions Committee inquiry and the Government needs to listen. Now is the time to write to your MP and ask them to push the Government to take drastic action. Reduce the number of days to just a handful a year and ban the sale to the public. Or you can use the RSPCA template
• Write to your councils asking them to change what they allow. 
• Ask your friends and neighbours not to let fireworks off or if they insist to, at least use low noise fireworks which are available from most firework suppliers
• Read and share more blogs on the impact of fireworks and share these too: Environmental impact, impact on pet owners, impact on war veterans and sufferers of PTSD and on assistance dogs, how even Christmas is no longer a time of peace and why fireworks are a nuisance and the law should change.