Christmas-working Bill progresses.North East MP Kevan Jones Kevan David Jones MP (born 25 April 1964) is a politician in the United Kingdom. He is currently Labour Member of Parliament for the North Durham constituency, which includes the towns of Chester-le-Street and Stanley and was first elected in 2001. was hopeful that his Bill to ban big stores opening on Christmas Day would move a step closer to becoming law today. His proposal, which is expected to get through the first hearing, was being debated in the House of Commons House of Commons: see Parliament. and is then likely to go to the House of Lords House of Lords: see Parliament. . The Durham North Labour backbencher is optimistic that it could become law by December 25. Employment Minister Gerry Sutcliffe Gerard Sutcliffe (born May 13, 1953), known as Gerry Sutcliffe, is a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom. He is Member of Parliament (MP) for Bradford South and a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and is will be in the Commons chamber to support the Private Members' Bill which will prevent stores with a floor space of more than 3,000 sq ft opening on Christmas Day. Smaller convenience shops will still be able to open, but the current situation ( in which shop staff could be forced to work Christmas Day unless it falls on a Sunday ( will be outlawed. The only hurdle is a series of amendments put down by Tory MP Eric Forth, a strong opponent of moves that he considers pander to the "nanny state". Mr Jones, a former Newcastle city councillor, said the Bill was supported across the political spectrum, by the major supermarkets and chain stores and by the shopworkers' union Usdaw. Mr Jones said: "Christmas Day represents a traditional time for celebration both for Christians and for others. "People should not be forced to work on December 25, they should be allowed to be with their families. "If I forget to buy sprouts, it's a minor inconvenience. "People have the choice to eat something else. "I'm hopeful that the Bill will finish its Commons stages today and then go to the House of Lords. "I hope it should be law in time for this Christmas," Mr Jones added. |
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