Coalition clash on Sunday shopping: Cable accused of blocking 'boost to economy'

• Six hour trading laws were relaxed during the Olympics
• Move could become permanent to boost the economy
• Lib Dems, Church and unions oppose the measures

Proposals to let shops open longer on Sundays have reignited Coalition tensions.
Senior Tories are pushing for the extension of Sunday trading hours brought in during the Olympics to be made permanent, but Business Secretary Vince Cable is blocking the move.
Ministers agreed to extend the limit on Sunday trading from six to eight hours for the duration of the Olympics and Paralympics.

Controversial: Scrapping restrictions on Sunday trading to bring shoppers onto High Street is being proposed by members of the Government

Some Tories, including Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, believe that making the move permanent would be a boost for the economy.
Tories now want to look at the effects of Sunday shopping during the Olympics before including them in a new economic regeneration Bill being proposed for the autumn.

 

The restrictions apply to shops of over 3,000sq ft. But any move to relax them will be controversial with small firms which do not face such restrictions and use longer hours to gain a weekend advantage.
Trade unions are opposed to any move to extend the rules since they believe it will force people to work longer and have an impact on family life at the weekends. The Church of England is also opposed.
Mr Pickles said: ‘I’m always keen that we respect religious beliefs. But I think we should kind of look long and hard at the results.’
The Prime Minister yesterday sought to avoid another row with the Lib Dems after last week’s rift over reform of the House of Lords and constituency boundaries.

Opposition: Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, left, is opposed to relaxation of Sunday trading laws, which Communities Secretary Eric Pickles is looking at

Mr Cameron said: ‘On Sunday opening, we said at the time it was a specific thing for the Olympics.’
A source close to Mr Cable said: ‘We always made it clear this change was a temporary measure and not a test case for a permanent relaxation of the rules.’
But some Tories believe that Mr Cable, who admits he still has ambitions to succeed Nick Clegg as the Lib Dem Party leader, is seeking to boost his own standing with his party’s grassroots by automatically blocking Tory ideas.
A source close to Mr Clegg expressed bemusement about the disagreement, saying no formal proposals had been put forward.

Six hours is not enough

Labour business spokesman  Chuka Umunna said: ‘We were very clear – a temporary relaxation of Sunday trading restrictions should not be used as a trojan horse for permanent change.’
Some Conservative backbenchers are also opposed to any permanent extension of trading hours.
Mark Pritchard said: ‘This is a major breach of trust between the Government and the many Conservative MPs who only supported the measure because the Government promised the change would be temporary only.
‘A permanent change would harm small traders, workers rights, and further damage relations between the Church and the Government.’