Graham Stuart, Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness, last week co-signed a letter to the Sunday Telegraph and a report from the British Infrastructure Group of MPs (BIG), ‘Sunday trading for the 21st Century’, supporting the government’s plans to devolve power to local authorities over Sunday trading rules.
Nowadays people rightly expect greater flexibility in all aspects of their lives. Being able to shop when it’s convenient is one such freedom. Yet while times and attitudes have changed, Sunday Trading laws have stayed the same. British high streets and physical retailers have been left trying to compete with 24/7 online shopping; a task which is made harder by a shortened trading day at the weekend, just when many families might hope to go shopping together.
The trend across Europe is for liberalising Sunday trading laws. A comparison of European countries where trading laws have been relaxed or removed found that the changes resulted in a 7-9% net increase in employment. Consumers will also benefit from greater flexibility around when to shop and high streets will be a more enjoyable place to be on Sundays.
Graham said: “I believe the time is right to give local communities a choice about whether shops should be allowed to extend their Sunday trading hours in England; just as is already the case in Scotland. This position is endorsed by 39 of my fellow MPs and over one hundred Council leaders who have written to the Communities Secretary to support the Government’s proposals. It is right that local communities and their leaders be given more control over powers for their high streets.
“The report notes that in addition to helping my constituents shop at times more convenient to them, modernised trading laws could also provide economic benefits worth £1.4 billion per year to the overall UK economy and £64 to each family in this country. These are benefits that will be welcomed by hard working families and communities across England and Wales.”
Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Cllr Stephen Parnaby OBE commented, “We need to recognise shopping and leisure pursuits have changed, we want to give flexibility and choice to residents of the East Riding and our many visitors. Not to change could be potentially devastating to many retailers as they compete with other areas.”
