Conservative MP upbeat about defeating Sunday trading plans

Plans to change Sunday trading rules will not become law if politicians and the public voice their opposition to the proposals, a Conservative MP has told C-Store.

David Burrowes, MP for Enfield Southgate, said there was likely to be “significant cross-party opposition” to the plans, which he will campaign “wholeheartedly” against.

“If the public and politicians get fully involved locally and nationally in the consultation and campaign then I am confident that it will not become law,” Burrowes added.

“Whilst I await the results of the consultation to see if there is a demand for a change in the law, as a matter of principle I am against further relaxation of Sunday trading laws. I am also concerned about the practical negative impact upon small businesses and particularly my local high streets.”

Under the proposals announced by the government in the Budget, powers to enforce Sunday trading regulations would be delegated to local authorities.

“I believe that [the changes] would not support small businesses and there is no real demand for change - apart from some loud big business voices. I believe it would be detrimental on family life and disproportionately impact upon female workers,” Burrowes said.

“The current Sunday trading laws are a Great British compromise. If you want to shop you can shop, if you want to work you can work, if you want to rest you can rest.”

Asda and Morrisons are alone among the major supermarkets in explicitly backing an extension to Sunday trading hours, while a poll by Kantar found that 42.7% said ‘yes’ to extended hours in, while 46.6% said ‘no’. A further 10.7% of the 7,039 people polled didn’t know.