Bill Esterson MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Small Business, commenting on proposals to relax Sunday trading laws in England and Wales, said:

“We know that shopping habits are changing, not least with internet shopping, but we have been consistent in raising the concerns of small businesses, retail workers and families in speaking out against the Tories who are seeking to make sweeping changes to Sunday trading laws through legislative sleight of hand when there is little appetite for such a change and which was not in the Tory manifesto at the recent general election.

“We welcome that, after months of indecision and delay, the SNP have finally come to a firm position on this issue. This just goes to show that the best way to defend workers’ rights and conditions is to maintain unity and work together across the UK.“