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| Osborne to unveil Sunday trading consultation despite PM's reassurance | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Related: Labour candidates criticise plan to relax Sunday trading laws | |
| The chancellor will announce a consultation on extending shop opening hours on Sundays in the budget, just months after a letter sent on behalf of David Cameron promised that the government had “no current plans to relax the Sunday trading laws”. | The chancellor will announce a consultation on extending shop opening hours on Sundays in the budget, just months after a letter sent on behalf of David Cameron promised that the government had “no current plans to relax the Sunday trading laws”. |
| George Osborne will confirm the consultation on devolving responsibility for Sunday shop opening hours to local authorities in his budget speech in Wednesday, a move that would end the national ban on large stores opening for more than six hours on Sunday. | |
| However, a letter was sent on behalf of the prime minister during the general election campaign to the executive director of the Keep Sunday Special campaign reassuring him that the government had no such plans. | However, a letter was sent on behalf of the prime minister during the general election campaign to the executive director of the Keep Sunday Special campaign reassuring him that the government had no such plans. |
| “We believe that the current system provides a reasonable balance between those who wish to see more opportunity to shop in large stores on a Sunday, and those who would like to see further restrictions,” the letter reads. | “We believe that the current system provides a reasonable balance between those who wish to see more opportunity to shop in large stores on a Sunday, and those who would like to see further restrictions,” the letter reads. |
| The letter, dated 20 April, just under three weeks before May’s general election, was sent to Michael Trend by a political correspondence manager at the Conservative party. | The letter, dated 20 April, just under three weeks before May’s general election, was sent to Michael Trend by a political correspondence manager at the Conservative party. |
| “We are reducing the burdens on businesses and helping them manage all aspects of an employment relationship, while protecting fairness for employees,” the letter reads. “Backing business and supporting employees is part of our long-term economic plan, which is building a stronger economy and better future for Britain.” | “We are reducing the burdens on businesses and helping them manage all aspects of an employment relationship, while protecting fairness for employees,” the letter reads. “Backing business and supporting employees is part of our long-term economic plan, which is building a stronger economy and better future for Britain.” |
| “I hope you find this reassuring and thank you, once again, for writing to the prime minister,” it finishes. | “I hope you find this reassuring and thank you, once again, for writing to the prime minister,” it finishes. |
| A consultation on two proposals is expected to be announced in the budget: devolving power over Sunday trading laws to elected mayors or to local authorities. If the first proposal is chosen, it would have a much slower impact since the number of mayors is to be limited for the foreseeable future. The changes are expected to be included in the enterprise bill. | |
| Sunday trading laws allow all stores to open for six hours between 10am and 6pm, while small shops with a floorspace of less than 280 sq metres (3,000 sq ft) can open all day. | Sunday trading laws allow all stores to open for six hours between 10am and 6pm, while small shops with a floorspace of less than 280 sq metres (3,000 sq ft) can open all day. |
| John Ashcroft from Keep Sunday Special – a campaign of the Relationships Foundation – said he was hugely disappointed that the government should be “trying yet again to fundamentally alter the balance and harmony of our national life in such a underhand manner”. | |
| Related: Budget 2015: George Osborne to shake up Sunday trading laws | |
| Announcing the plans, Osborne argued there was a growing appetite for shopping on a Sunday. “The rise of online shopping, which people can do round the clock, also means more retailers want to be able to compete by opening for longer at the weekend,” he said. “But this won’t be right for every area, so I want to devolve the power to make this decision to mayors and local authorities.” | Announcing the plans, Osborne argued there was a growing appetite for shopping on a Sunday. “The rise of online shopping, which people can do round the clock, also means more retailers want to be able to compete by opening for longer at the weekend,” he said. “But this won’t be right for every area, so I want to devolve the power to make this decision to mayors and local authorities.” |
| The plans have provoked criticism from trade unions and three of Labour’s leadership candidates. | The plans have provoked criticism from trade unions and three of Labour’s leadership candidates. |
| Andy Burnham, the frontrunner in the leadership race, tweeted that Sunday was the only day people who worked in shops could bank on some time with their kids. “I will oppose this all the way.” | Andy Burnham, the frontrunner in the leadership race, tweeted that Sunday was the only day people who worked in shops could bank on some time with their kids. “I will oppose this all the way.” |
| Another leadership contender, Liz Kendall, said the Sunday Trading Act worked: “Retailers can trade, customers can shop, shopworkers can spend time with their families, why change it?” | |
| Her fellow leadership hopeful Yvette Cooper said: “George Osborne is getting it wrong on Sunday trading. The current legislation provides the right balance between Sunday shopping and protecting a bit of family time for shopworkers in a competitive market. | Her fellow leadership hopeful Yvette Cooper said: “George Osborne is getting it wrong on Sunday trading. The current legislation provides the right balance between Sunday shopping and protecting a bit of family time for shopworkers in a competitive market. |
| “Changing the law like this will put more parents under pressure to work longer at weekends rather than spend precious time with their kids. And asking each area to set their own rules just risks creating a race to the bottom between areas competing to open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” | “Changing the law like this will put more parents under pressure to work longer at weekends rather than spend precious time with their kids. And asking each area to set their own rules just risks creating a race to the bottom between areas competing to open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” |
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