Originally Posted by Chris

It doesn't work in Scotland. The economy here is not roaring ahead of the rest of the UK. The shops do not sell any more. All that happens is, the same amount of stuff is sold over a more extended period, more people have to work Sundays and fewer people get family time with children while the children are out of School.

Extending Sunday trading hours (by which I mean, permanently, not the temporary lift during the Olympics) can't be defended on any grounds other than the rather selfish demand for people to go shopping at 4pm on a Sunday because they damned well want to go shopping at that time and why should anyone stop them.

Peter, as an avowed Union man I'm gobsmacked that you of all people should be so in favour of what is basically a further erosion of the rights of low-paid workers to a decent structure and time off during their week. And let's be clear about this, the people who will be hit hardest are the low-paid retail shop floor workers who, while technically having the right to derogate from Sunday hours, are the ones who are least empowered to actually do so.