Shopworkers are calling on MPs to back the next crucial stage in their campaign to get a guaranteed day off on Christmas Day.

Retail trade union Usdaw is seeking MPs' support for legislation to ban larger stores from opening on any future 25 December.
It says the landmark is on 26 March 2004, with the second reading in the House of Commons of a Private Member's Bill to be moved by Kevan Jones, the Labour MP for Durham North (Risks 137).

The Bill seeks to ban stores with a floorspace in excess of 280 square metres from opening on Christmas Day in England and Wales. Bill Connor, Usdaw general secretary, said: 'Victory is clearly in our grasp. We have received widespread support, including government backing, for this campaign.

Now we must ensure that MPs attend the second reading of Kevan Jones' Bill on 26 March, and show their support for shopworkers who want to spend Christmas Day at home.' Usdaw is running a parallel campaign in Scotland where the union is supporting The Christmas Day and New Year's Day Trading (Scotland) Bill, proposed by Karen Whitefield, the Labour MSP for Airdrie and Shotts