MPs from all parties rush to sign Early Day Motion opposing shops opening longer on Sundays

MPs from all parties have been rushing to sign an Early Day Motion condemning moves to allow big stores to open longer on Sundays.

At the moment larger stores are allowed to open six hours on a Sunday but retail union Usdaw is opposing moves by some retailers to persuade the Government to allow them to open longer.

The EDM sponsored by Tamworth MP Brian Jenkins has attracted the support of 137 MPs from across the political spectrum at Westminster.

“I very much welcome support for this EDM from a wide cross section of my colleagues at Westminster,” Brian Jenkins said. “I'm particularly encouraged by the pre-Christmas rush to sign as it shows MPs are thinking very clearly about the stresses and strains retail staff are under during the festive season.

"This is a motion that is not opposed to Sunday trading, but sets out very clear reasons why six hours is quite enough for most shoppers. This level of support from MPs in all parties - Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Scottish National Party and Democratic Unionist Party - sends a very clear message to the Government that there is serious cross-party opposition to any move to further relax limits on Sunday trading hours.”

Usdaw is one the driving forces behind the opposition to the extension of Sunday trading hours and commissioned an independent poll of UK shoppers that found 62% of them were opposed to more shops opening longer on a Sunday.

“I'm delighted Brian Jenkins has attracted such solid cross party support for his motion as it shows MPs are really in touch with what their constituents want,” says Usdaw General Secretary John Hannett. “Nearly two-thirds of the British public are opposed to any extension of Sunday trading hours as are the vast majority of our members who will feel under pressure to work longer if the hours are extended.

“We've made our case to Government that the British public already have 150 shopping hours a week which is probably the most open retail environment in Western Europe. Poll after poll is showing widespread opposition to any more than six hours opening on Sundays and shoppers agree that Sunday should remain a special day for families.

“This is an issue the major retailers can't agree on with some of them wanting longer hours and some opposed. But our members are clear and united on what they want which is just one day a week where they can spend some quality time with their families so we will fiercely oppose any further deregulation of Sunday shopping.”

Notes to Editors:

• To check if your MP has signed the EDM go to http://edmi.parliament.uk/edmi/ (EDM 1085)
• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw's Media Officer, Paul Clarke, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 or e-mail paul.clarke@usdaw.org.uk.
• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union, with over 341,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.
• Journalists can subscribe to receive Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service.

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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