Let's Scrap Sunday Trading Laws

Because today is Sunday

‘Sunday Bloody Sunday really encapsulates the frustration of a Sunday - you wake up in the morning, you’ve got to read all the Sunday papers, the kids are running around, you’ve got to mow the lawn, wash the car, and you think “Sunday, bloody Sunday!”’

That was how Alan Partridge tried to bond with some Irish TV producers. It was obviously wrong and insensitive, but he was right about how frustrating Sundays can be. Not for the reasons Partridge set out, but rather because of Sunday trading laws. We should scrap them.

For those of my readers who are lucky enough to not live in England or Wales, the law states that on a Sunday small shops can open as long as they like but shops over 280 square metres can only open for 6 consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm. 

This is deeply inconvenient for people, especially if their local store is a large supermarket. It means they might have to travel longer or take a diversion on their way home if they want to grab something for their tea.

However, it is more than simply an inconvenience, it can also exacerbate the cost of living crisis. For example, the price of items is often cheaper in larger supermarkets than in their smaller equivalents or corner shops. It might not make a huge difference, but given the times we’re in, every little really does help.

It’s not just bad for consumers, it is also bad for workers. Again, given the cost of living crisis many people are trying to work as much as possible just to pay their bills and put food on the table. Depriving them of the opportunity to work longer hours on a Sunday means they have less money. 

Businesses should be free to open as they like on a Sunday and workers should be free to work for as long as they like. As long as people are not being exploited, it really is none of the State’s business.

The arguments against scrapping Sunday trading laws really don’t hold much weight. For example, there is the claim that we should try and keep Sunday special so that families can spend more time together. There is nothing stopping people from spending time with each other on other days and they might actually have more time throughout the week if they don’t have to work longer hours on other days to make up for the loss of income on Sundays.

There is also the argument that the current system allows people to attend church. Again, I find this unconvincing. Given that the recent census showed that Christians are no longer a majority this is an anachronistic argument. What is more, many churches now offer services at different times of the day so again there is nothing stopping people from attending church if they want to. It is also unfair of people of other faiths or none who might want to have another day off instead.

However, it’s not just Sunday trading laws that are an issue. The rules around opening hours for the rest of the week is also a problem. For example, in areas such as Soho in central London, it is almost impossible to find a bar or club that is open past 11pm most nights of the week. The same goes for restaurants.

Moreover, there are rules about where people can be served. Again, to use Soho as an example, it was pedestrianised which brought huge benefits for businesses, workers, and consumers. Unfortunately, the local council gave the streets back to cars.

As is often the case with many of our country’s ills, it is the NIMBYs who are to blame. Often rich and older home owners who have chosen to live in the middle of a major city and yet complain about the noise. As with housing, they kick up a fuss and game the system, effectively bullying spineless councillors to cave in to their demands.

We should scrap Sunday trading laws and take licensing powers away from local authorities so that businesses can stay open as long as they like and the area around them pedestrianised. Doing so would be good for people (especially the young), good for businesses, and good for workers.