A number of Scottish National Party (SNP) MPs are likely to be responsible for the Government’s proposals to relax Sunday trading laws in England and Wales being quashed.
The SNP’s stance is to vote against the changes being implemented in England and Wales, because of their fears that the move could have an impact on Scottish workers’ salaries.
Angus Robertson, leader of the SNP at Westminster, said: “SNP MPs could hold the balance of power in the House of Commons on Sunday shopping and we will not undermine shop workers.
“This legislation will impact on workers in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK and no pay safeguards have been offered by the Westminster Government.
“The SNP will continue to work with the representatives of shop workers and we will oppose the Tory proposals.”
A minority of Conservative MPs, as well as representatives from other opposition parties, will vote the same way as the SNP, meaning that a close result is expected and experts are unable to forecast a probable outcome.
In the Budget, Chancellor George Osborne stated that he would take steps to ensure that councils and mayors would be able to control Sunday trading laws on a local level, rather than a national law being applied across the regions.
Legally, large shops and supermarkets can only be open to the public for six hours on a Sunday, under current laws.
Despite the potential law change only applying to England and Wales, the SNP has cited evidence from USDAW – the shop and trading union – that argues retailers would cut wages across the UK if Sunday opening hours were extended.