Coronavirus: Sunday opening hours extension to be ditched amid threats of Tory revolt

Plans to extend Sunday opening hours to help stores recover from the coronavirus lockdown look set to be ditched amid threats of revolt by Tory backbenchers.

Boris Johnson’s official spokesman told reporters that Sunday trading laws were “under review”.

But with a new Covid bill set to be introduced to parliament before the end of this week, there is not enough time for the result of any review to be incorporated into a new law.

Reports suggested that as many as 50 Conservative MPs were ready to vote against extended opening on Sundays - enough to defeat Mr Johnson in the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman, when asked whether plans to widen Sunday trading had been ditched, said: “We have said we will keep measures such as extending Sunday trading hours under review as they can support shops with social distancing and allow shoppers to buy food and other items more conveniently.”

Asked if the suggested plans were now on the “back burner”, the No 10 spokesman added: “There is a Covid Bill which will look at new ways of working as the country recovers from the disruption caused by coronavirus and which is intended to help businesses through the summer months, in particular.

“I would expect that Bill to be introduced this week.”

He continued: “In terms of what is in the Bill, it is right that that will go to Parliament first but, as I say, at the heart of it will be legislation to enable businesses to adjust to new ways of working and to help them to capitalise on the summer months.

“It will look to support business to implement safer ways of working to manage the ongoing risks of coronavirus and in particular the need for social distancing.”

The legislation, known as the Business and Planning bill, is expected to be introduced by business secretary Alok Sharma and to include relaxation of planning rules to allow innovative methods of maximising the amount of trade venues can carry out, such as expanding pavement cafes and other outdoor dining and drinking areas.

Shopworkers' union Usdaw welcomed the climbdown.

General secretary Paddy Lillis said: “We appreciate the desire to help the retail sector, but the proposal to undo a long-held and workable compromise on Sunday trading was misguided and overwhelmingly rejected by shopworkers. We welcome reports that the government has rejected the proposal to make shopworkers work longer on Sundays.

“What the retail sector needs now is a tripartite approach of unions, employers and government sitting down talking about what a retail recovery plan will look like. We have long called for an industrial strategy for retail to help a sector that was already struggling before the coronavirus emergency.

"The government needs to level the playing field on taxation between online and the High Street, as well as enable councils to breathe new life into town centres and make them community hubs."

A letter to the Prime Minister signed by seven Tory MPs including Fiona Bruce, David Amess and Bob Blackman warned Mr Johnson this weekend that over 50 MPs were known to be opposed to the plans.

The group warned: “We stand squarely behind your ambition to stimulate economic growth and revitalise British high streets, but removing Sunday trading hours will not achieve this."

Opposition among Tory MPs saw off an earlier attempt by David Cameron to introduce longer Sunday opening hours in 2016.