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Rex
UK News

Sunday should be special for families and God, say campaigners

by Hannah Tooley

The 'Keep Sunday Special' campaign wants to limit shop opening hours and encourage people to appreciate their weekend.

The request comes in time for the May general election, with campaigners hoping to persuade parties to get on board. The immediate priority is to fight further de-regulation of Sunday trading, which they have been against since Margaret Thatcher relaxed them as Prime Minister.

The group said pressure was too high on Sunday workers and people have not properly considered the impact of this working on staff.

The NHS seven-day weeks and Sunday shopping were two examples used to show the pressure on families of staff. It recognised the benefits of convenience but pointed to late-night and online shopping as an alternative to Sunday opening hours.

Tony Ashcroft is from Keep Sunday Special. He told Premier people do not have the extra cash to spend shopping on Sundays so it is of not great benefit to the economy. Shift parenting was also a concern of his.

He said: "A day off during the week is not the same as a day off on Sundays.

"And the research shows that there are about 20% of working families who have a parent working both weekend days - and there are issues there about how parents manage their relationship with their children and the ability to help with homework and so on.

"It can also place pressure on couples where you end up with shift parenting - so that one parent is working Monday to Friday and the other parent is working Saturday and Sunday, to cope with child care - but then clearly as a couple they have very little time together.

"So we need to recognise the impact on people and find the right balance between the benefit of convenient access to services and the protection both of family life, and also religious observance for those for whom it is important."

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