The vote against Sunday trading reform has demonstrated how ignorant many MPs are to what retailers really need and want. 

It is absolutely ridiculous that party politics has derailed much needed Sunday trading reforms – which would have boosted retailers at a time when they are facing unprecedented cost pressures including increased business rates, the national living wage, and the apprenticeship levy.

354917426 DO NOT USE BOUGHT IMAGE

London’s West End attracts extremely high footfall on a Sunday

The number of MPs who voted against the reforms – 317 – shows how ignorant many in Westminster are to what retailers want.

It would be bad enough if ignorance were the sole cause of this rejection of the reforms, but the real reason is far more sinister – party politicking.

While Labour had their ludicrous ‘Keep Sunday special’ campaign, and sheer ignorance is the general forte of Tory backbenchers, the SNP are the chief culprits.

Despite spurious claims that their ‘no’ vote somehow helps safeguard Scottish workers’ wages, the SNP voted against the Sunday trading reform purely to stick two fingers up at the Government, rather than factoring in the myriad benefits – to retailers and UK jobs – that reform would bring.

Shifting patterns of behaviour

It is clear that, with the advent of online shopping, retailing has fundamentally changed. Shoppers can now buy what they want, when they want, where they want.

Notwithstanding the issue of tax, chief of which is business rates – which online pure-plays don’t need to pay – there is hardly a level playing field at the moment in terms of opening hours.

“A reform of the Sunday trading laws would help high street retailers to compete with online retailers better, improve sales densities and help meet cost pressures”

Jonathan De Mello, Harper Dennis Hobbs

Pure plays such as Amazon can open 24/7, while high street retailers are stuck with antiquated trading laws which restrict their ability to compete.

A reform of the Sunday trading laws would help high street retailers to compete with online retailers better, improve sales densities and help meet increased cost pressures.

Employment benefits

Reform would also have created much needed jobs in the UK and could potentially have negated much of the anticipated job losses that will inevitably have to take place in order for retailers to finance higher business rates and the national living wage.

The only element of the planned reforms that didn’t sit particularly well with me was the idea of allowing local councils to define ‘zones’ where they could allow extended Sunday opening to certain areas and retailers.

Surely the retailers themselves would be better at deciding when they should open, rather than local councils?

Retailers know their own cost structures best and would be better able to balance the cost of increased payroll, stock and energy costs against potential higher sales levels.

Level playing field

Some locations are in desperate need of a reform of the Sunday trading laws – London’s West End in particular, given the extremely high footfall volumes it attracts on Sundays.

“Why restrict people’s freedom of choice in a democratic society? If people choose to shop, why shouldn’t they be able to?”

Jonathan De Mello, Harper Dennis Hobbs

Ultimately, the Keep Sunday special campaigners are missing the point. Why restrict people’s freedom of choice in a democratic society? If people choose to shop, why shouldn’t they be able to?

It is the same with workers’ rights – they can and should be able to choose if they want to work on a Sunday or not.

Continued lack of reform of Sunday trading is in that sense fundamentally undemocratic.

  • Jonathan De Mello is head of retail consultancy at Harper Dennis Hobbs