Ian McCartney named Furniture Parliamentarian of the Year
Ian McCartney, MP for Makerfield in Lancashire, has been named Furniture Parliamentarian of the Year 2008 by the British Furniture Confederation (BFC) to mark the 20th anniversary of his involvement in the introduction of the furniture flammability regulations.
Mr McCartney was presented with his award, a copy of Bespoke Furniture by Betty Norbury, by the Lady Master of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers, Margaret Miller at a reception held to mark the first ever exhibition at the Palace of Westminster of bespoke British furniture.
“I am genuinely moved by the fact that people think my work worthy of recognition,” said Mr McCartney. “At the time, many thought the regulations would kill the British furniture industry. I argued it could actually regenerate it as people would replace their old furniture with new, safer items.”
“I’ve been a fan of the furniture industry for a long time – it is a very skilled and innovative industry and it’s grossly under-estimated here in the UK,” he added.
“In Madeline Moon (chair of the All Party Parliamentary Furniture Group) and Ian McCartney, we have two true industry champions, who are helping us improve our voice and representation in government,” added Martin Jourdan, chairman of the BFC. “Ian has recently ensured the furniture industry is represented on the Creative Industries Board which is concerned with Britain’s overseas representation. Without his input we might again have been left out in the cold.”
Ian McCartney, MP for Makerfield in Lancashire, has been named Furniture Parliamentarian of the Year 2008 by the British Furniture Confederation (BFC) to mark the 20th anniversary of his involvement in the introduction of the furniture flammability regulations.
“I’ve been a fan of the furniture industry for a long time – it is a very skilled and innovative industry and it’s grossly under-estimated here in the UK,” he added.