Sunday shopping laws retain popularity

MPs from across the political divides have overwhelmingly rejected the complete relaxation of Sunday trading hours in a survey for retail union Usdaw. The survey conducted by independent analysts Communicate Research found that 78% of MPs questioned rejected the idea that Sunday trading should be completely liberalised and there was almost uniform support from MPs from Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem MPs as well as other smaller parties at Westminster .

"This is a massive thumbs down to the idea that there is widespread support at Westminster for any relaxation of the present six hours large stores can open on a Sunday," says Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. "The Department of Trade and Industry are conducting a review to see how much support there is for relaxing the present arrangements but this poll clearly shows that there is massive disquiet from backbench MPs.

"Nearly half of all backbench MPs from every political party have also signed an Early Day Motion opposing more shopping hours on a Sunday and we believe that the new evidence from this poll shows the Government will have a real fight on their hands trying to get any new legislation through Parliament. "We believe MPs have rightly taken note of an independent poll we commissioned of British shoppers which found 64% didn't want shops to be open any longer on Sundays and a survey of our members which found 92% didn't want to work longer on a Sunday."

Nearly two thirds of the Parliamentarians said they didn't believe the present Sunday trading laws provided effective protection to employees who choose not to work on Sundays. "There is a legal right for staff in retail to opt out of working on Sundays but the MPs have correctly identified that there is a massive problem with actually having the confidence to take up this right," says John Hannett. "Our survey discovered the alarming fact that only 11% of our members have the confidence to take up the opt-out and a staggering 62% come under pressure to work on Sundays when they don't really want to.

"Relaxing the Sunday trading laws will only increase pressure on our members and this will seriously impact on more vulnerable staff who may not be able to say no. We are delighted that such a large number of MPs recognise the intense pressure many shopworkers are under to turn up for work on Sundays when they would rather be at home with their families like most other people."