Sunday trading reform doomed as MPs line up in opposition

Tory MPs have written to prime minister Boris Johnson warning him that they will rebel over his proposals to extend Sunday trading.

Johnson aimed to relax Sunday trading rules for a year, as one measure to help the country recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, but newspapers including The Telegraph have reported that is now unlikely, although the idea remains “under review”.

A group of Tory MPs said in their letter to Johnson: “We stand squarely behind your ambition to stimulate economic growth and revitalise British high streets, but removing Sunday trading hours will not achieve this.

“It will harm local shops and high streets by displacing trade to large out-of-town retail parks and supermarkets.”

They argued: “Sunday is an especially important day for the millions of retail key workers that have been on the front line during the nation’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak, feeding the nation and delivering for their local communities.”

The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “We have said we will keep measures such as extending Sunday trading hours under review as they can support shops with social distancing and allow shoppers to buy food and other items more conveniently.”

Shopworkers’ union Usdaw was opposed to liberalisation. General secretary Paddy Lillis said: “We appreciate the desire to help the retail sector, but the proposal to undo a long-held and workable compromise on Sunday trading was misguided and overwhelmingly rejected by shopworkers. We welcome reports that the government has rejected the proposal to make shopworkers work longer on Sundays.

“What the retail sector needs now is a tripartite approach of unions, employers and government sitting down talking about what a retail recovery plan will look like.”