Kevin Hughes, the Labour MP for Doncaster North, has today introduced a bill in the House of Commons which seeks to ban large stores from opening on Christmas day.

Reports in today's press suggest that trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt now believes that large retailers should not open on Christmas day and is preparing to send a letter to large retail chains urging them to remain closed on December 25.

Forum Response: Usdaw

A spokesman for Usdaw told ePolitix.com: "Usdaw is keen to see that its members are protected from this extension to trading hours, which strikes at the heart of family friendly employment.

"We are in favour of legislation, rather than a voluntary code being introduced in Parliament in order to provide a concrete guarantee that large stores will not be able to open on Christmas Day."

Forum Response: Sainsbury's

A spokeswoman for Sainsbury's told ePolitix.com: "We only ever open stores smaller than 3000 square feet on Christmas Day. Although we respect the fact that some of our customers wish to shop on Christmas day, the very few stores we do open are our local shops which sell petrol.

"We never force our staff to work on Christmas day. They only work on a strictly voluntary basis."