Mark Allatt: It’s time we scrapped our archaic Sunday trading laws

Mark Allatt is Director of Open Sundays, a campaign group calling for the liberalisation of Sunday trading laws.

 In an era where the rhythm of daily life has accelerated beyond recognition, the UK’s archaic Sunday trading laws stand as a stubborn relic, stifling economic vitality and curtailing consumer freedoms.

Next year marks the 40^th anniversary of the defeat of the Shops Bill 1986 – Margaret Thatcher’s only defeat in the House of Commons – which would have brought Sunday trading hours in England and Wales into line with Scotland, where shops can open at any time of day.

John Major’s compromise – The Sunday Trading Act 1994 – came into force over 30 years ago, allowing shops to open, but restricting opening times of larger stores – those over 3,000 square feet (280 square metres) – to a maximum of six hours consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm. This not only hampers business growth but also denies hardworking families the flexibility in an always-on world.

Recent whispers from Westminster, however, signal a potential sea change. As reported in several newspapers, the Government is mulling over relaxing these curbs amid broader economic debates.

They highlighted proposals that could extend hours for giants like Tesco, Lidl, and Aldi, potentially reshaping shopping habits across England and Wales. Retail industry commentators have noted Treasury sources floating ideas to calm retailer unrest over rising business rates. Open Sundays, the voice of consumers and retailers united for reform, urges the Shadow Chancellor to push the Government to seize this moment and for the Conservative opposition to support any moves by Rachel Reeves liberalise Sunday trading in November’s budget.

The current rules were supposedly designed to protect small family run stores from the emergence of the major supermarket chains. But they have moved onto the street corner anyway, and  towns are now awash with the smaller ‘Express’, ‘Local’ and ‘Little’ stores, charging eleven per cent more for the same produce that you could buy in a larger store.

During the 2012 London Olympics, the Government was so embarrassed by the archaic Sunday trading laws that they were suspended for an eight-week period.  Visitors, tourists and British shoppers were free to shop at a time of their choice, with no harmful side-effects. In fact sales rose 3.2 per cent compared to the previous year for those months. It’s now time for these Sunday trading restrictions to be removed for good.

When the coalition Government tried to liberalise in 2015, it was thwarted by the votes of Scottish Nationalists, seeking to deny shoppers in England and Wales the same freedoms that Scots already enjoy. It is not just Scotland that has a competitive advantage: if we are to compete for the tourist dollars of visitors from America, Asia and Arabia, then post-Brexit England and Wales had better be open for business. Even in over-regulated France, shops in designated tourist zones in Paris have been allowed to open on Sundays since 2009.

Everybody recognises that the current Sunday trading laws do not preserve any valuable cultural aspects of our way of life.  They make it harder to get to Church and they make it harder to serve Sunday lunch with fresh produce. It is bizarre that you can take delivery of your online shopping at 9am on a Sunday but you cannot visit a store to buy the same items. Allowing stores to open on a Sunday could be the shot in the arm that our high streets need.

The argument that people need a day off is valid.

But in today’s society, that doesn’t always have to be a Sunday. The Sunday economy gives those who cannot work on weekdays the chance to earn some money  – from students wanting to keep down their student loans to those who care for elderly relatives or children. Sunday shopping  can sustain modern family life.  Children inclined to spend time on screens alone are brought out of the house to  participate in an enjoyable family experience – which may result in a meal out or even a trip to church.

Not all shops would choose to open at all hours of the day, even if the law allowed them to. It is a matter of choice for them, as it should be for individuals as to whether they choose to shop on a Sunday. The trial was done on Boris’ watch and we know that giving people these choices does no harm. It’s time for the Conservatives to push the Government to act and complete the job Margaret Thatcher started in 1986.