More than 50 Conservative MPs have warned Boris Johnson not to lift existing restrictions on Sunday trading.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, MPs including Fiona Bruce and William Wragg said that enabling larger supermarkets to open for more than six hours on Sundays will not stimulate Britain’s economy following lockdown.
The MPs said: “Sunday represents an important common day of rest, where families and communities can spend time together.”
‘Special’
They told the Prime Minister that “Sunday is an especially important day for the millions of retail key workers that have been on the frontline during the nation’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak”.
The MPs added that “keeping Sunday just a little bit special provides an opportunity for communities to come together, and for individuals to pause, reflect and recharge for the working week ahead”.
The letter also pointed out that lifting Sunday trading restrictions would “harm local shops and high streets by displacing trade to large out of town retail parks and supermarkets”.
‘Damaging’
This comes as a survey has revealed that shopworkers are also overwhelmingly against the Government’s proposal.
Of the 11,631 retail staff surveyed by shopworkers’ union Usdaw, 92 per cent opposed plans to open large stores for more than six hours on a Sunday.
Paddy Lillis, General Secretary of Usdaw, called the Government’s plan “wrong, misguided and a slap in the face for key workers”, warning that it could be “very damaging to shopworkers’ lives, our communities and the retail sector.”
Two thirds of those surveyed said that they are already pressured to work on Sundays, and 51 per cent said they would like to work fewer hours on Sundays.
Opposition
Earlier this month, senior Government Ministers warned Boris Johnson against lifting existing restrictions on Sunday trading.
In a letter, Chief Whip Mark Spencer, Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg and Leader of the Lords Baroness Evans of Bowes Park warned him to expect “strong” opposition if the Government pushes ahead with the plans.
Govt Sunday trading claims ‘just misdirection’