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No 10 defends Sunday trading shake-up ahead of crunch vote SNP to vote against Sunday trading shake-up
(about 2 hours later)
Downing Street has defended its planned shake-up of Sunday trading laws as it seeks to win MPs' support for the controversial changes. The SNP has said it is to vote against UK government plans to change Sunday trading laws in England and Wales.
MPs will vote on Wednesday whether to give councils in England and Wales the freedom to decide whether larger stores should be able to stay open longer than the current six hours. Proposals to allow English and Welsh councils to permit larger stores to open for more than six hours will not directly affect Scotland, where there are no trading restrictions in place.
No 10 said it was right to give local communities more flexibility. But the SNP said it had concerns over the knock-on effects on Scottish pay.
The SNP is to meet later to decide whether to support the proposals. With more than 20 Tory MPs set to rebel, the risk of a government defeat in a vote on Wednesday has increased.
With Labour opposing the change and more than 20 Conservative MPs threatening to rebel, the government could be at risk of losing the vote on the Enterprise Bill if the SNP refuses to back them rather than abstaining. MPs will vote on proposed changes to Sunday trading laws in what would be the biggest shake-up for 20 years.
The change will not apply directly to Scotland, where there are currently no trading restrictions in place, or in Northern Ireland. Senior SNP officials in Westminster met on Tuesday to decide whether to order their 54 MPs to abstain in the vote, effectively allowing the proposals to pass, or to oppose them outright. They have decided to do the latter.
With Labour also opposing the changes and at least 21 Conservative MPs threatening to rebel, the SNP's stance could tip the balance in the vote.
At the moment in England and Wales, small shops - up to 280 sq m, or 3,000 sq ft in size - can open when they want to on Sundays but larger stores are restricted to six hours between 10:00 and 18:00. Retailers can be fined up to £50,000 if they break the rules.At the moment in England and Wales, small shops - up to 280 sq m, or 3,000 sq ft in size - can open when they want to on Sundays but larger stores are restricted to six hours between 10:00 and 18:00. Retailers can be fined up to £50,000 if they break the rules.
'Paramount'
The UK government's plans to give councils the freedom to determine opening hours will not apply directly to Scotland, where there are currently no Sunday trading restrictions in place.
But the SNP has concerns about their impact on existing Sunday wage rates and people who do not want to work.
Stewart Hosie, the SNP's deputy leader, said the UK government had made concessions to protect workers but they did not go far enough in terms of safeguarding the "premium pay" rates he said Scottish workers currently enjoyed.
"Protecting Scottish workers has been paramount to our decision to oppose the government's plans on Sunday Trading," he said. "We have had Sunday Trading in Scotland for some time and the SNP has never been opposed to it.
"However, our concerns here are rooted in the knock-on impact to Scottish workers who would be at risk of pay cuts - many of whom are already suffering from George Osborne's cuts to tax credits and other in-work support.
"SNP MPs have considered all sides in this debate and our decision has been made so workers in Scotland are protected."
The decision was welcomed by unions, which said "common sense had prevailed".
'Common sense'
"Shopworkers across the UK will be relieved the SNP have eventually made the right decision to oppose Sunday trading changes that could impact on shop workers pay," said John Hannett, the general secretary of Usdaw.
Asked before the SNP announcement whether it was confident of Commons approval, Downing Street said it was clear about the economic benefits that could result from giving communities the power to determine opening hours.
"We think this is a way to enhance the ability of communities to support their High Streets to deal with some of the pressures that they face from the online market that we have these days and where we haven't updated Sunday trading rules to reflect that," a No 10 spokeswoman said.
Ministers say the change will help High Streets struggling to compete against online retailers and reflects changing leisure and working patterns.Ministers say the change will help High Streets struggling to compete against online retailers and reflects changing leisure and working patterns.
'Online pressures' But critics have said Sunday should remain a special day for people to spend with their family or pursuing other activities, including religious observance, free from added commercial pressure. They have expressed concerns that despite promised safeguards, staff will come under increased pressure to work from employers, and pointed out the proposals were not in the Conservatives' election manifesto.
But critics have said Sunday should remain a special day for people to spend with their family or pursuing other activities, including religious observance, free from added commercial pressure. They have expressed concerns that despite promised safeguards, staff will come under increased pressure to work from employers and pointed out the proposals were not in the Conservatives' election manifesto.
Asked whether it was confident of victory, Downing Street said it was clear about the economic benefits that could result from giving communities the power to determine opening hours.
"We think this is a way to enhance the ability of communities to support their high streets to deal with some of the pressures that they face from the online market that we have these days and where we haven't updated Sunday trading rules to reflect that," a No 10 spokeswoman said.
Amid speculation that the government is prepared to tweak its plans to tackle SNP concerns in areas such as Sunday wage rates, Downing Street said its message to the SNP was "if they've got these measures in Scotland then its something else that communities across the UK could benefit from".
In the run-up to the vote, 21 Conservative MPs signed an amendment to the Enterprise Bill opposing the changes.In the run-up to the vote, 21 Conservative MPs signed an amendment to the Enterprise Bill opposing the changes.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has warned the proposals would be the thin end of the wedge and could herald a full "seven day society". Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has warned that the proposals would be the thin end of the wedge and could herald a full "seven-day society".
"If we march through those lobbies together tomorrow with a group of Conservatives who share our views - we will win and we'll keep Sundays as a different day - it's worth fighting for," he said during a visit to east London."If we march through those lobbies together tomorrow with a group of Conservatives who share our views - we will win and we'll keep Sundays as a different day - it's worth fighting for," he said during a visit to east London.
"For those with a strong Christian faith who wish to have a different Sunday I absolutely support them. For those who just want a different day of a week on a Sunday, a day they can get together with family... relaxation time, that's good.""For those with a strong Christian faith who wish to have a different Sunday I absolutely support them. For those who just want a different day of a week on a Sunday, a day they can get together with family... relaxation time, that's good."