[Shaun]

Sunday trading laws are to be suspended on eight weekends from 22 July during the Olympics and Paralympics, the chancellor is expected to announce.

In his Budget, George Osborne is likely to say large shops in England and Wales can trade for more than six hours.

It would require emergency legislation which officials hope to pass by Easter.

Ministers hope the move would boost shopping, but campaign group Keep Sunday Special said it would act as "cover for creeping deregulation".

Church leaders are also thought likely to oppose the plans, while Labour indicated it would consider them before deciding whether or not to back them.

The Sunday Trading Act 1994 states that large shops over 280 square metres in England and Wales are restricted to any six hours of continuous trading between 10:00 and 18:00 on Sundays.

And they cannot open at all on Easter Sunday.

It also includes specific measures to protect the rights of shop workers who do not wish to work on Sunday.

By temporarily suspending these rules, the government hopes hundreds of thousands of visitors who head to London for the sporting spectacle will take advantage of late-night shopping in the West End, boosting flagging retail figures.

There is also optimism that people throughout England and Wales will visit supermarkets, garden centres and DIY stores on the lighter summer evenings.

Although the relaxation would be temporary, the Treasury is expected to closely monitor its effects and a permanent move has not been ruled out if it proves a success.

Tory MP Nadine Dorries predicted that Mr Osborne would "face a barrage of criticism" as a result of the move.

She posted on Twitter: "Arrogant to impose without debate and vote of whole house.

"Is the coalition government secretly implementing an anti-Christian agenda. And if so, who is driving it, Cameron and Osborne or the LDs?"

Last year, Suffolk Coastal MP Therese Coffey warned that a temporary lifting for the Games was likely to lead to a permanent change and could stop staff enjoying the "once-in-a-lifetime" chance to enjoy the sporting spectacle.

She had been responding to a bid by party colleague Mark Menzies to make the change with his own bill.

Mr Menzies said he was "absolutely delighted" that the plan was now being taken up by the Mr Osborne, adding that it would "send out a very powerful message that Britain is open for business".

The MP for Fylde, whose professional background is in retail, said he had been told an estimated 1,700 extra part-time jobs could possibly be created as a result at the new shopping centre near the Olympic park.

And he said he had "no desire at this stage" to see the looser rules applied beyond August.

Keep Sunday Special said the rumours were "profoundly worrying". and it totally opposed the "unnecessary" move.

Meanwhile, the body which represents convenience stores has already warned it could set an unwelcome precedent.

Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said: "Any relaxation, even just for London during the Olympics, would erode our existing, popular, Sunday trading rules.

"Retailers will benefit greatly from the Olympics and they do not need a few extra hours on three additional Sundays to do it."

He said it the government made this concession, it would open the door for the big retail lobby to press for all sorts of exemptions for other events, and "undermine the whole principle".

In Scotland, Sunday trading has long been deregulated with shops deciding their own hours.

In Northern Ireland, legislation brought in 1997 allows large shops over 280 square metres to open between 13:00 and 18:00 on Sundays.

-likes this idea; thinks they're stupid anyway-

[joeysteele]

As long as something is there to protect those who don't want to work on Sundays or for longer on a Sunday.

It wouldn't bother me working on a Sunday but any previous so called flimsy protection soon disappeared for workers when Sunday trading was allowed before, hopefully this extension will ressurrect some protection for people who don't want to work on Sundays without them being subjected to endless persuasive actions and often threats and near bullying from bosses as to their future jobs 'or' getting promotion in their place of work in the future because they don't like working Sundays.

Shopping,in my view, as I watch people on Sundays in stores etc, is the new/main religion anyway.
It almost seems people will do anything to go shopping over anything else.I did though fully expect some change for the Olympics but I do hope firmer protection is put in place for everyone who does not want to do much or even any work on a Sunday.

[Marc]

Fair enough, a Sainsbury's near me is open until like 10pm on a Sunday anyway?

[arista]

Yes great news.

[Jarrod]

Originally Posted by Marc

Fair enough, a Sainsbury's near me is open until like 10pm on a Sunday anyway?

Same here for Spar?

[Boothy]

Originally Posted by Marc

Fair enough, a Sainsbury's near me is open until like 10pm on a Sunday anyway?

There's a Tesco Express near me that's open until 11.

[Benjamin]

What a stupid idea. Why must the shops stay open later and the workers have to work longer? Can people not survive a few hours without a shop being open?

[Bollo]

Originally Posted by ukturtle

What a stupid idea. Why must the shops stay open later and the workers have to work longer? Can people not survive a few hours without a shop being open?

I can't, I'm a shopaholic...I have a serious problem

[arista]

Originally Posted by ukturtle

What a stupid idea. Why must the shops stay open later and the workers have to work longer? Can people not survive a few hours without a shop being open?

Its only during the Olympics.

And this helps us all.

I prefer 24/7 shops.

[Ninastar]

Originally Posted by ukturtle

What a stupid idea. Why must the shops stay open later and the workers have to work longer? Can people not survive a few hours without a shop being open?

personally I think it's a good idea. I can't count the times we've needed to get something from the shops on a sunday and it being too late at 4pm

Our asda shuts at 4 on a sunday and so do the rest of the supermarkets.

Also, it opens job opportunities for people, which is always a plus

[arista]

Originally Posted by Ninastar

personally I think it's a good idea. I can't count the times we've needed to get something from the shops on a sunday and it being too late at 4pm

Our asda shuts at 4 on a sunday and so do the rest of the supermarkets.

Also, it opens job opportunities for people, which is always a plus

You are most wise

[Scarlett.]

It's 2012, why the hell are we still closing early on Sundays?

[arista]

Originally Posted by Chewy

It's 2012, why the hell are we still closing early on Sundays?

Poxy Church rules
via MP's votes

[arista]

Originally Posted by Boothy

There's a Tesco Express near me that's open until 11.

Yes small stores do that.


But this is for Bigger Stores.


Like AsdaWalmart

[Kizzy]

Greedy big businesses...used to be double time for sunday, now its just part of the working week :/

[arista]

Originally Posted by kizzy

Greedy big businesses...used to be double time for sunday, now its just part of the working week :/

So What
many that work Sunday may get a week day off.


Bliss.

[Kizzy]

so what?....Sew buttons thats what!

[arista]

"As long as something is there to protect those who don't want to work on Sundays or for longer on a Sunday."

No Joey
this is just for 5 weeks or so.

Do not go all Union Like on me.



Feel The Force

[Livia]

It's only for eight weeks. No one's putting a gun to anyone's head to work Sundays. If you don't want to, find a job where you don't have to. It used to be that Sundays were protected and special because it was a Christian holy day. How many people don't want to work Sundays, expect more money for working Sundays and yet would never describe themselves as Christians? If someone doesn't want to work on Sundays, then don't. Moan about it to the others in the dole queue while someone from Eastern Europe does it instead.

[Ninastar]

[reece(:]

Tesco over the road is open till 11, so this is no different for me

[arista]

Originally Posted by reece(:

Tesco over the road is open till 11, so this is no different for me

Bigger Stores will be Open longer.

[Marc]

Originally Posted by jarroddaniel1

Same here for Spar?

Originally Posted by Boothy

There's a Tesco Express near me that's open until 11.

I guess we wont see the benefits then

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by ukturtle

What a stupid idea. Why must the shops stay open later and the workers have to work longer? Can people not survive a few hours without a shop being open?

It's to maximise the potential profits in London when they're inundated with tourists for the Olympics.

[Jack_]

Shops shouldn't close early on Sunday's anyway. It's a tired tradition (if you could even call it that) that really doesn't have much place in the modern world if you ask me.

If you don't want to work or shop on a Sunday, then fine...but some others do, and so why should you not be allowed to on the basis of some petty religious ideology?