MPs are told: `Keep Sunday Special'

BY ANTHONY BRIELE AND LYNNE THORABIE THE KEEP SUNDAY Special campaign is this week launching a rearguard action against attempts by the House of Commons to extend Sunday opening hours.
Campaigners this week sent letters to all new members of Parliament, urging them to restore Sunday as a special day for all the family.
John Alexander, campaign manager of Keep Sunday Special, told the Herald: "Since the passing of the Sunday Trading Act in 1994, the Keep Sunday Special campaign has fought against the extension of opening hours on a Sunday.
"Campaigners are now fearing that attempts will be made to increase the number of shopping hours on Sunday to eight or even ten hours."
Campaigners only want to see small shops opening on Sundays, an option defeated in Parliament in 1994 by just 18 votes.
In December 1996, the European Parliament renewed its commitment to Sunday remaining a common day of rest for everyone in the European Union.
But the campaign has estimated that it still has 180 potential supporters in the House of Commons, and has written to 260 new MPs.