Don’t be so silly, David. I specifically said ‘apparently’ because I recall reading some time ago that there was concern about workers rights. Anyway, to make it easier for you I’ve googled the info for you.Personally I couldn’t give a toss about workers rights so I would welcome longer hours.“Extending Sunday trading hours in England and Wales has been repeatedly blocked by a powerful coalition of political parties, trade unions, small business advocates, and religious groups. The most recent attempt in 2016 was defeated in a House of Commons vote when a rebellion by Conservative MPs joined forces with Labour and the Scottish National Party. The central points of contention in the debate include protecting workers' rights, supporting small businesses, and preserving Sunday as a special day for community and family life. Arguments against extension * Protection for workers: A key concern, especially from unions like USDAW, is that extended hours would put pressure on retail staff to work on Sundays. While the 1994 Sunday Trading Act includes an "opt-out" clause for Sunday work, opponents fear that longer hours would erode these protections, create pressure from employers, and lead to a deterioration of work-life balance for retail employees.* Support for small businesses: Advocates for the current laws argue they protect smaller shops from competition with larger supermarkets. While large shops are restricted to six hours, small shops (under 280 sq meters) can open for longer. Critics of longer hours contend that extending large stores' hours would simply displace trade from local, independent retailers without significantly increasing overall consumer spending.* Preserving "special" Sunday: Religious organizations, alongside groups like the "Keep Sunday Special" campaign, have long campaigned to maintain Sunday as a special day distinct from the rest of the week. They believe that unlimited Sunday trading would further commercialize the day, harming family and community life.* Economic skepticism: Opponents have challenged the projected economic benefits, arguing that longer hours might simply redistribute existing spending, potentially increasing costs for large retailers without a corresponding rise in revenue. The 2016 devolution attempt The 2016 defeat highlighted the political challenges of altering the compromise reached by the Sunday Trading Act 1994. The Conservative government's proposal to devolve the decision-making on Sunday hours to local councils was designed to empower local economies but faced cross-party opposition. * The government lost the vote by 317 to 286, with 27 Conservative MPs rebelling against their own party.* This defeat showed that the existing Sunday trading compromise, which balances competing interests, still enjoys significant political support across the aisle. The current situation The 1994 Sunday Trading Act, which allows large stores to open for a maximum of six hours, remains in effect in England and Wales. The law is seen by many as a successful and stable compromise, with repeated government reviews and proposals for reform failing to gain enough traction to pass through Parliament. “
Steve Taylor ● 4d