Angela Eagle MP, Labour’s Shadow First Secretary of State and Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, commenting on the Government’s announcement to amend Sunday trading laws during the Enterprise Bill, said:

“Labour has been consistent in echoing the voices of small businesses, shopworkers and their families in support of the current arrangements. It works well and means that retailers can trade, customers can shop, and shopworkers can spend time with their families.

“This is at risk under the Tories who are set to make major changes to Sunday trading laws, a policy that wasn’t in their manifesto. They tried it before but wisely abandoned their plans at the last minute in the face of widespread opposition, not least from their own backbenches.

“Choosing to include such sweeping changes at this stage in the Enterprise Bill’s passage through Parliament, and at such short notice, shows that Ministers intend to bounce these measures through with minimum scrutiny.”