Barbara Keeley MP is asking constituents what they think about plans to change Sunday Trading
The MP for Worsley and Eccles South, supports the shopworker’s union USDAW in its campaign to keep Sunday Special. She is asking for local people to say what they think about the Government’s sudden plan to change Sunday trading.
A Government Minister made a surprise announcement of a plan to change Sunday Trading rules in a debate on the Enterprise Bill this week.
USDAW says that shopworkers are very concerned about Government plans to devolve Sunday trading hours to councils and the effects that this will have on family life, local shops and the community.
They feel that the change could lead to large shops opening for longer, even though they are already trading for up to 150 out of 168 hours a week, so shopworkers will have even less time to spend with their families. The change may not help small stores, who are already allowed to open whenever they like, and USDAW feel it may put some of them out of business.
Barbara Keeley MP said:
“I am asking constituents in Worsley and Eccles South to let me know what they think about a possible change to Sunday opening hours. The Government announced the plans for change suddenly, saying they will make an amendment to the Enterprise Bill as it passes through Parliament. MPs will have to vote on this soon.”
“Just before the election the Prime Minister wrote to the ‘Keep Sunday Special Campaign’ saying ‘I can assure you that we have no current plans to relax the Sunday trading laws.” There was also no mention of changes to Sunday Trading in the Conservative manifesto at the General Election.
“I believe that the current system provides a reasonable balance. Retailers can trade, customers can shop, staff can work; but Sunday remains a special day, different to other days, and shopworkers can spend some time with their family. I am interested to hear what my constituents in Worsley and Eccles South think about the idea of changing this.”
