Valerie Vaz MP opposes longer Sunday trading hours and welcomes Government U-turn

Rt Hon Valerie Vaz MP has criticised Government plans to deregulate Sunday trading.

Rt Hon Valerie Vaz MP said:

“Shop workers across the country have kept the shelves stacked and the country going during the coronavirus lockdown. But if the Government’s plans to deregulate Sunday trading go ahead, they will need to work longer weekend hours and miss out on valuable time with family and friends. This is a regressive step and an unfair way to treat those who have worked so hard in challenging circumstances.”

“A survey conducted by the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) found that 92% of shop workers oppose the move and two thirds of them feel they are under pressure when they are asked to work on a Sunday.”

“The case for extending Sunday trading hours is flawed. Opening stores for longer does not mean that customers have more money to spend. We need investment in the retail sector which supports our struggling high streets and small businesses. Deregulating Sunday trading laws would achieve the opposite: creating more competition from big supermarkets for those smaller shops who have been most affected by the coronavirus lockdown.”  

“The Government should abandon these plans and instead ensure low-paid shop workers are valued and receive the pay and job security they deserve as they were the ones who supported us during the pandemic.”