Should shops remain closed on Boxing Day?
A petition calling for a ban on shops opening on Boxing Day has attracted close to 194,000 signatures.
The petition was created last month by Ian Lapworth, a baker and former DJ from Kettering, who argues that the Christmas holiday should be respected by retailers.
Mr Lapworth says:
“Shops, especially supermarkets, do not need to open on Boxing Day. Whilst not everyone may see Christmas as a religious holiday, it should be respected as such, and retail workers (who work so hard on the run up to the big day) given some decent family time to relax and enjoy the festivities like everyone else. Most retail workers are on the go up to Christmas Eve, then back on Boxing Day. Sometimes they have no choice. We managed 30 and 40 years ago…when shops were sometimes shut for a whole week. Let’s get back to the way it was. Forget making money for one day, let’s concentrate on making more memories with the ones we love.”
What are your views? Would you support the proposal of shops remaining closed on Boxing Day? Would you welcome the return to a less commercialised holiday season? Do you visit shops on Boxing Day?
