That people don't seem bothered by the SNP blocking Sunday trading

[Twooter]

When we have it here in Scotland ( and always get caught out by the restricted hours when we go to England.

[Andrewofgg]

If we still had effective unions, then this sort of thing wouldn't be a problem.

If USDAW were effective there would be one hell of a problem. They tried to block the six-hour rule in 1994. If their leaders had their way we would be back to 9.00 to 5.30, close at 1.00 on Saturday and Wednesday. In 1965 they even opposed letting councils - not individual retailers - choose a different day for early closing. They don't want competition and they don't care about service.

[GoblinLittleOwl]

I don't think it is necessary to extend the Sunday trading hours so I am glad that the proposal was defeated, but I am annoyed, but not surprised, that the SNP voted against the Government. A foretaste of things to come, and Nicola Sturgeon has no control over them at all.

[feellikeahugefailure]

I don't buy the shops v internet argument - if B&Q shuts at 4pm on a Sunday the next earliest I can get tge product us 7am when they re-open, not when the online retailer can get it to me.

Amazon deliver next hour in many cities.

Even if they dont, when you want to buy something you want to buy it. You maybe working the next day so often next day delivery is the chepest.

[chipsandpeas]

if the gvt had enough votes the snp blocking wouldnt have been an issue

27 tory mps voted against it as well

[feellikeahugefailure]

*quickest

[DisappointedOne]

I'm furious. They shouldn't be allowed to vote in English only matters

It's not an English only matter.

[Kummerspeck]

I'm glad they did this. While, in principle, I agree they should not vote on England only matters that would leave us with an almost totally Tory vote on these things and before you know it we'll all be back in workhouses.

I worked for a large high street company for years. Initially staff were paid double time for Sundays, some years later the contracts of new staff were changed to one and a half time and then, in time, Sunday has become just another working day with no extra pay or compensation. People who need jobs cannot afford to say they won't work it.

Meanwhile that company makes millions and doesn't pay its full taxes. The Tories will never see this as a problem so I am grateful to the SNP for stopping them grinding workers' rights down further

[lostincumbria]

Amazon offer a tiny number of items to a tiny number of post codes for evening delivery. Most internet companies are light years away from this.

[wonkylegs]

I wasn't sold on the argument for extended Sunday trading anyway so the fact that political posturing meant that it didn't go through is just part of modern politics that for once worked in favour of my way of leaning. Most of the rest of the time it goes the other way.

[StepAwayFromTheThesaurus]

But the reason you'd have a mostly Tory vote if you said only those from England and Wales could vote is because so many English constituencies elected Tory MPs. If English people don't want a Tory representing them, they can vote otherwise and, if enough people agree with them, then they won't have a Tory MP.

[AnthonyBlanche]

Of course it's an English only matter Disappointed. Opening hours for shops in Scotland are a devolved matter. We've had large stores opening all day on Sunday for years.

As others have said it is just the SNP making mischief. I hate them with a passion, they are completely incompetent and totally hypocritical.

[Andrewofgg]

DisappointedOne It's not an English only matter, it's an English/Welsh matter. It concerns shops in England and Wales. If the Scottish Parliament decided to impose similar laws on Scotland it would concern them, not Westminster or indeed Cardiff.

So why should Members for Scottish seats have any say in it?

[Andrewofgg]

Kummerspeck On what other aspects of English life do you want the SNP to come and ride to the rescue of English voters from their own democratic choice?

[Rdoo]

I'm furious. They shouldn't be allowed to vote in English only matters

That's funny. English politicans have been making laws on Scotland, N Ireland and Wales for hundreds of years and you're outraged when it goes the other way.

[AnthonyBlanche]

Rdoo if you really believe what you've just written you clearly have no understanding whatsoever of how parliament works, or of which matters are devolved to Scotland and which are not. I'd also like to remind you that it's not so long ago that Scotland had a large number of conservative MPs. Are you by any chance a supporter of the SNP?

[DisappointedOne]

Of course it's an English only matter Disappointed.

No, it's and England-Wales matter. (It's the bit that has the misfortune to be stuck on the side of England.

[Andrewofgg]

Rdoo What you are complaining about was the result of long, slow development. We are supposed to have put that right by devolution. There is no call to create the same absurd result the other way.

Scottish shops can open on Sundays because there has been never been a law to stop them - for generations and generations they were too frightened of the clerics. Now that that has gone they are left free to choose to open or not to open, to shop or not to shop. All anyone is saying is that their Members of Parliament should not take that decision for retailers and shoppers in England and Wales.

[AnthonyBlanche]

Apologies Disappointed what I meant was that it is not a Scottish matter.

[DisappointedOne]

DisappointedOne It's not an English only matter, it's an English/Welsh matter.

Yes, I know that. That's why I said it wasn't England only.

[Sixweekstowait]

chips - yy. It was the Tory MPs that led to the Government's defeat - why all the angst turned on the SNP? As for democracy (haha) where was this change in the manifesto?

[angelos02]

I didn't realise until this was in the news that retail staff working Sundays didn't get double-time. Disgusting. No-one needs to shop on a Sunday. I'd like them to be shut all day on Sundays.

[Andrewofgg]

I am angry with the Conservatives who voted against as well, but it's their business in the way it is not the business of members for Scotland. It affects their constituencies and their electors.

Bourdic No political party puts everything they might do in the manifesto. And the naysayers would probably have noted No if it had been in.

[Andrewofgg]

Angelos02 If you want fresh produce on Monday morning some bugger has to drive through Sunday night to deliver it, and I doubt whether he (mainly he) gets double time either.

Like it or not, for many people shopping is now a leisure activity, and if you work in the businesses which cater to customers' leisure you have to work when they don't.

[DisappointedOne]

I didn't realise until this was in the news that retail staff working

Nor do restaurant or hotel workers, nurses, Redcoats, police officers and civilians........

[LittleBearPad]

Good. There's no need for shops to open all day on a Sunday.