Government faces problems with Sunday trading hours vote

The government could struggle to extend Sunday trading hours in England and Wales following upset from the Scottish National Party and Conservative backbenchers.

MPs will cast their vote on handing over the controls of Sunday trading hours to local councils which could see an increase in opening hours of up to six hours.

The government faces more pressure as the SNP are now planning to oppose the measures suggested, due to the plans impacting shopworkers’ pay in Scotland.

Conservative MP Grant Shapps told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It’s two decades since these rules were first set. The internet hadn’t even been invented at the time.

“We’ve now got a situation where people can get shopping delivered on a Sunday but you can’t go into a shop and buy. It’s a bit ridiculous and it’s time to update these rules.”