Sunday Trading (Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) Bill
Emergency legislation to enable temporary deregulation for the so-called 'Olympic Sundays' was introduced to Parliament on March 28 and received Royal Assent on May 1. The Keep Sunday Special Campaign vigorously opposed the argument for emergency legislation and made a strong case for keeping Sunday special in the press, on radio and TV, as well as briefing MPs and Peers. We believe this was successful in ensuring that the Bill will lapse after the games, in securing some improved protection for shopworkers, and putting a strong marker down about the extent of opposition to any further deregulation. We were particularly encourage by comments about the lack of demand for further deregulation from leading retailers such as the Sainsbury’s chief executive.
David Cameron came into government promising to make this country the "most family friendly in Europe". But over one million families have at least one parent working on both weekend days, meaning they have little time to spend with their children at a time when they are not at school with results that are becoming increasingly clear. Why make life tougher for our local communities and our families? Or does the Big Society only belong to Big Business?