Government defeated on Sunday trading as Tory rebels cross the floor

Government plans to extend Sunday trading hours in England and Wales were defeated yesterday after the Scottish National Party (SNP) joined Labour, and Conservative rebel MPs in voting down the change.

 

The SNP voted against the Government following an appeal from Scottish faith leaders including the Archbishop of Glasgow, Philip Tartaglia. In a joint letter to Scottish MPs they called on them to “stand up for Scottish workers and Scotland”. They argued that the change would affect the pay rates of shop workers in Scotland where there are no Sunday trading restrictions.

 

The Government was defeated by 317 votes to 286. It was David Cameron’s first defeat in the Commons since last May’s general election.

 

During the debate Christian MPs argued that extending shops’ opening hours on Sundays would impinge on the time families spend together, affect shop workers and diminish trade for small shops.

 

The leader of the Tory rebels David Burrowes, parliamentary chairman of the Conservative Christian Fellowship, said that Mr Cameron had ruled out changes to Sunday trading hours during the general election campaign.

 

“There are complex arrangements about Sunday trading and it is a duty on us to look at it carefully, consult on it widely and to scrutinise it fairly. None of those things have happened,” Mr Burrowes told fellow MPs.

 

Catholic Conservative backbencher Sir Edward Leigh argued it was an issue for Christians but for Tories in particular. “Ours is the party of struggling entrepreneurs and the family,” he said.

 

At present larger stores in England and Wales can stay open for six hours on a Sunday. Small shops are free to open when they want. The Government’s proposed change would have allowed local councils to determine shops’ opening hours. 

 

Communities and Local Government Minister Brandon Lewis failed in an attempt to stem the Tory revolt by proposing an eleventh-hour compromise to pilot the changes in selected areas for a year and then allow MPs another vote on the issue.

 

Chancellor George Osborne announced his plans to allow large stores to open for longer in last summer’s budget. The new measures were part of the Enterprise Bill, overseen by the Business Secretary, Sajid Javid. 

 

The SNP’s deputy leader, Stewart Hosie said: “Protecting Scottish workers has been paramount to our decision to oppose the Government’s plans on Sunday trading.” The Church of England also voiced opposition to the changes, saying: “Changing the law would have a negative effect on community and family life, whilst delivering few, if any, additional benefits for the economy.”