Leicester City Council Should Oppose the Extension of Trading Hours on Sundays

The Government has been determined over the last five years to deregulate Sunday trading, today was their fourth attempt and this time they have dressed it up as devolution. Thankfully the Tories plans failed with the parliamentary vote not going their way earlier today.

So far Leicester’s three Labour MPs have been vocal in their opposition to further deregulation of Sunday Trading hours. Yet the position of the Labour-run Leicester City Council is less clear. Last year Sir Peter Soulsby refused to oppose the proposed changes and reported to the Leicester Mercury (July 8, 2015):

“I would not say we would not consider an extension if other cities were doing it but I think currently we have got the balance about right.”

Former Councillor for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC), Wayne Naylor, explained that Soulsby’s statement provided no assurances to workers in Leicester:

“USDAW [the Union of Shop, Distributive, and Allied Workers] has played an important role in challenging the ongoing attempts by the Tories to extend Sunday Trading hours, and TUSC continues to support calls from USDAW members for Leicester City Council to firmly oppose any further deregulation efforts.

“Regardless of which way the vote goes today, TUSC believes that our Labour City Council should unite with other Labour Council’s across the country in pledging to refuse to extend Sunday trading hours.

“Labour could move a motion at the next Council meeting to this affect, and do much to safeguard both workers and family rights. Workers will then be able to sleep at night knowing that their Labour Council is firmly on their side on this important matter.”

For more information on Usdaw’s campaigning see http://www.keepsundayspecial.org.uk