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.

As a Christian and someone who think family time is important this

I'm an atheist and think family time is important. What has Sunday got to do with family time?

I wouldn't miss it if there was no shopping at all on Sunday.

The people who work on Saturdays might.

Hirples Labour did not abstain on this; they voted against.

EVEL is indeed a crappy bodge; any Bill and section of a Bill which will not apply substantially to Scotland should be for English votes; and Welsh it will apply to Wales.

I'm furious. Pisses me right off.

I want to shop for longer on a Sunday as I get bugger all time during the week.

Longer hours means more jobs or more pay. Employers would need to implement an over time system that would be fair on workers. Given what a pigs ear Jeremy Hunt has made of the junior doctors contract maybe it's for the best that the government didn't include provision for pay in the law??

Disappointed my reasons were two separate reasons.

LadyWithLapdog What about shops owned by Jewish people who close on Saturdays? Even before 1994 they could open on Sunday morning.

Oh, and then there's the shops selling souvenirs in the cathedrals . . .

Sorry missed the last part of your question. Sunday is a good day to set aside for family time as mon- fri is school and Saturday can be taken up with either working , children's activities , shopping etc.

What has Sunday got to do with family time?

It's a day that a lot of people aren't working and spend time with family/friends. This is helpful to many people whether they're religious or not. Obviously there are some jobs where people are needed to work Sundays, but retail doesn't have to go down that route.

EVEL is indeed a crappy bodge; any Bill and section of a Bill which will not apply substantially to Scotland should be for English votes; and Welsh it will apply to Wales

The only way to do this properly though is to have 4 devolved parliaments. It is really, really wrong to tell elected UK representatives that they cannot input into the UK parliament.

RockUnit As you must be aware that bus has well and truly left. No political party is going to try to reduce Sunday opening.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine I agree in theory: but in practice why cannot the Members for English seats be the English Parliament for matters devolved to Scotland and Wales and the Members for English and Welsh seats be the Anglo-Welsh Parliament for matters (such as this) devolved to Scotland but not to Wales? It may not be ideal but it's workable and avoids yet another tier of government in England.

RockUnit As you must be aware that bus has well and truly left. No political party is going to try to reduce Sunday opening.

Yes, I realise it's unlikely.

But if all days end up the same, why bother having days of the week at all? We could just give each day a number from 1 to 365.

I applaud the SNP for voting against this. This is nothing more than a ploy by this government to normalise Sunday working into a normal working day - same as they are disingenuously trying to do with the NHS. Yes, there are some jobs that provide a 24/7 service but working in retail is not one that is necessary. Having shops open all day (possibly until 9pm or so) isn't going to produce more money being spent. There is still a finite amount of money that people have to spend- they'll just have more hours to spend the same amount in. Unless, of course, loads of us have money stashed somewhere that will dissolve if we don't spend it on a Sunday evening.
These tory bastards will drag us back a hundred years in terms of workers' rights - reminds me of Downton when the Dowager asked 'What's a weekend?'

As someone who has no time for shopping during the week I'd be very annoyed if there weren't sensible shopping hours on Sunday. Fortunately as I live in Scotland it isn't a problem.

I work weekends as an nhs employee.

I do it because it's vital for me to be at work, front line staff.

I don't want extended hours on Sundays. I actually enjoy the fact the roads are quieter and its feels laid back.

Longer hours means more jobs or more pay.

Not even close! Retailers no longer pay extra for Sundays, overtime or evening work. Longer hours mean current staff stretched even thinner and less profit for businesses as longer opening hours don't mean Joe Public suddenly has more money to spend.

And retail workers already work a lot longer than 6 hours on Sundays! We have day workers in from 6am to stock shelves and cook hot food, and although we close at 4pm, people are still needed to close down, clean up, stock shelves, cash up etc.

Why are retail works so special, lots of people work Sundays.

Why do we have to keep making special arraignments for people's religions, if you choose to have a religion that is your business, but you shouldn't expect everyone to have to adjust their lives for your beliefs.

The SNP should not be able to veto this type of vote. Regardless of whether or not we agree, it is a Terrible use of power.

Is it really about religion for most people Sohow? Or a realisation that it's healthy to have a proper break once a week if possible?

The SNP did not "veto" this, they voted against it. This is acceptable under EVEL. Had the Tories had the support (including from their own MPs), it would have passed; it didn't.

I am delighted and thank the SNP. I want a few hours without the high street being crammed, or cars rushing to out of hours too.

No, if the SNP had abstained it would have passed Hirples.

They wre acting within EVEL which just shows how EVEL needs tweaking.

In the meantime let's have an amendment to another Bill next session which is so written as to come firmly within EVEL; either just allowing large shops in England and Wales to open or - if we must - allowing local authorities to extend the hours.

The Tories have a majority government. Had all of their MPs turned out and voted for this measure, it would have passed regardless of whether the SNP abstained (which they were originally minded to do) or voted against. However, 27 Tory MPs voted against - surely they (and MPs from other parties) "blocked Sunday trading" as much as the SNP? Anyone bothered by that?

The Conservatives who voted No are Members for English seats and were voting on an English question; I think they are wrong but of course Members of Parliament must have a conscience vote, and this is their business because it affects their constituents. It is nothing to do with the SNP because it does not affect their seats.

Except that USDAW persuaded the SNP that it would, or at any rate could, affect their constituents, hence voting against, rather than abstaining.

The SNP have a long and honourable record of voluntarily abstaining on matters which don't affect Scotland, well before EVEL was even thought of. It's just that no-one used to notice much, because there weren't very many of them.

Everything which happens in England has some knock-on effect on the rest of the U.K. - that's a function of size and geography. USDAW are engaged in a cynical ploy to deny English shoppers the rights which the SNP would not dare to restrict in Scotland.