[Sticks]

I just wonder how far the private members bill being introduced by Ebrill Cyntaf MP, Conservative Member for Downton in Wiltshire next Friday will get. That is the "Prohibition of Online Sunday Trading Bill"

The idea is that there is an anomaly in the law, whereby stores are restricted in when they can open and what they can sell, such as they can sell a pornographic magazine, but not a Bible, but online retailers are there 24/7 selling anything and everything. If the reports are correct, this bill if passed will close that loophole by outlawing online trading in the UK on Sundays. Sites will be required to close down, and the Bacs system dealing with credit and debit cards will be banned from authorising any online payments on a Sunday.

Needless to say Amazon would be opposed to this, but they are not above the law. The government were going to oppose this but after the rebellion by the conservative rebels, of which Ebrill Cyntaf MP was one, the rumour is that they are going to support it on the QT as a deal to head off future rebellions on other more important votes.

We also hear rumours that the SNP may be backing this, as not to do so might put workers pay at risk in Scotland. Not sure what the Labour Party position is on this, but one suspects that Unison may order them behind the scenes to support this bill, as online trading on a Sunday is costing shop workers jobs.

As for the house of Lords, expect it to get a fair wind there, with the Bishops all in favour, or to be more accurate, unable to justify not voting for it.

So it looks like shopping on line on a Sunday may be a thing of the past

I realise this is an erosion of our civil liberties, so time is short, and you may need to lobby you MP to vote against the "Prohibition of Online Sunday Trading Bill"next Friday at first reading