MPs have voted against proposals to change Sunday trading hours by 317 votes to 286.
Currently, shops over 3,000sq ft. are only allowed to trade for a maximum of six hours on a Sunday. The Government’s proposals would have seen local councils given the power to remove Sunday trading restrictions in their local area.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Today’s vote will be a welcome relief for local shop owners, who would have lost out to superstores and out of town retail parks if these measures had been passed.
“The flaws in the Government’s plans have been exposed, and MPs from across the House have voted to retain our popular existing Sunday trading regulations. We encourage the Government to look at measures that will actually help the high street such as business rates reform, and look forward to hearing about the Chancellor’s plans to help retailers in next week’s Budget.”
During the debate, Local Government Minister Brandon Lewis MP attempted to promise amendments to the proposals which would have seen 12 pilot zones deregulated over the next 12 months, but this amendment was rejected twice – first by the speaker of the house and second by MPs who voted against the plans.
