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PM faces cabinet backlash over plans to suspend Sunday trading laws - The Times

Published 12/06/2020, 22:30
Updated 13/06/2020, 01:50
© Reuters. UK government daily briefing on coronavirus updates

© Reuters. UK government daily briefing on coronavirus updates

(Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing a cabinet backlash over plans to suspend Sunday trading laws, with three ministers warning him against it, The Times newspaper reported.

Some lawmakers wrote a letter to the prime minister saying the move will attract opposition and raised concerns about legislation proposed as part of the government's coronavirus recovery bill, the newspaper reported.

The bill includes a measure to grant cafes and pubs fast-track approval to serve food and drink outside, according to the report.

Johnson and his adviser Dominic Cummings both support legislation drafted by Downing Street under which larger supermarkets are to open for more than six hours on Sundays, the newspaper said.

Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Business Secretary Alok Sharma are also said to be in favour of the move, the report added.

Some supermarkets are opposed to the changes while two big supermarket groups, Asda (N:WMT) and Morrisons (L:MRW), are said to be in its favour, The Times reported.

Britain's Sunday Trading Act of 1994 allows large stores to open for no more than six consecutive hours between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

© Reuters. UK government daily briefing on coronavirus updates

The proposed legislation would suspend them for a year as part of a bigger bailout effort to help retail and hospitality businesses weather the effects of the coronavirus outbreak, the newspaper added.

Latest comments

sunday trading laws are out of date, ridiculous a business should be allowed to open and trade whatever hours it wants
People can only spend their money once. Allowing supermarkets to open for longer will not generate more sales. if people are managing to get food an eat under the present trading laws what good will opening longer do? They only want to do this because supermarkets are having keep social distancing with queues waiting outside. But if there are no queues in the evening now during the week, why does he think there will be queues on a Sunday evening? Just another example of this government grasping at straws because they have no idea what's happening on the street.
it ironic that we now need social distancing than ever before, yet all shops (including small local shops) are open for shorter hours meaning all the people who want to shop need to do so together. if we had 24 hour shopping, you would see more people taking advantage of late night shopping where social distancing is more likely, and more over that would reduce the demand during the day, saving long queues outside stores
Why wouldnt you allow them to open longer, even if its just for 6 months to start recovery?
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