Shops Bill 1986
Encyclopedia
The Shops Bill 1986 was a parliamentary
bill
in the United Kingdom
that would have ended government regulation of Sunday shopping
in England and Wales
. Introduced by the government of Margaret Thatcher
, it was defeated in the House of Commons at its second reading: the last time that a government bill had fallen at that stage.
The Shops Act 1950 regulated Sunday shopping hours, making it illegal for shops to sell most products on Sunday. The Auld Committee, chaired by Robin Auld
, found that the regime established by the 1950 act was unworkable, with arbitrary exemptions and widespread breaches by large retailers. The consequent Auld Report recommended that the Shops Act be repealed, which the government accepted and adopted into its legislative programme.
Thatcher had anticipated that Labour
would oppose the bill, spurred by trade union
s fears that shop-workers would be forced to work on Sundays. However, she did not anticipate the backlash from the Christian right
. 72 Conservative
backbencher
s defied a three line whip, voting against the bill at second reading – just after midnight on the morning of 15 April 1986 – and it was defeated by 14 votes. This represented Thatcher's only defeat in the House of Commons.
Sunday trading was ultimately relaxed by the Sunday Trading Act 1994
: the 27th attempt to do so.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
bill
Bill (proposed law)
A bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature. A bill does not become law until it is passed by the legislature and, in most cases, approved by the executive. Once a bill has been enacted into law, it is called an act or a statute....
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
that would have ended government regulation of Sunday shopping
Sunday shopping
Sunday shopping refers to the ability of retailers to operate stores on Sunday, a day that Christian tradition typically recognizes as the Sabbath, a "day of rest". Rules governing shopping hours, such as Sunday shopping, vary around the world but some European nations continue to ban Sunday shopping...
in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
. Introduced by the government of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
, it was defeated in the House of Commons at its second reading: the last time that a government bill had fallen at that stage.
The Shops Act 1950 regulated Sunday shopping hours, making it illegal for shops to sell most products on Sunday. The Auld Committee, chaired by Robin Auld
Robin Auld
Sir Robin Ernest Auld was a Lord Justice of Appeal in the Court of Appeal of England and Wales.Sir Robin was educated at Brooklands College and King's College London. He graduated with a first class honours degree in Law in 1958, obtained a doctorate in Law in 1963, and he became a Fellow of...
, found that the regime established by the 1950 act was unworkable, with arbitrary exemptions and widespread breaches by large retailers. The consequent Auld Report recommended that the Shops Act be repealed, which the government accepted and adopted into its legislative programme.
Thatcher had anticipated that Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
would oppose the bill, spurred by trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s fears that shop-workers would be forced to work on Sundays. However, she did not anticipate the backlash from the Christian right
Christian right
Christian right is a term used predominantly in the United States to describe "right-wing" Christian political groups that are characterized by their strong support of socially conservative policies...
. 72 Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
backbencher
Backbencher
In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition...
s defied a three line whip, voting against the bill at second reading – just after midnight on the morning of 15 April 1986 – and it was defeated by 14 votes. This represented Thatcher's only defeat in the House of Commons.
Sunday trading was ultimately relaxed by the Sunday Trading Act 1994
Sunday Trading Act 1994
The Sunday Trading Act 1994 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom governing the right of shops in England and Wales to trade on a Sunday...
: the 27th attempt to do so.