Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004

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Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 [1]
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (variant 1, 1952-2022).svg
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title An Act to prohibit the opening of large shops on Christmas Day and to restrict the loading or unloading of goods at such shops on Christmas Day.
Citation 2004 c 26
Territorial extent  England and Wales [2]
Dates
Royal assent 28 October 2004
Commencement 9 December 2004 [3]
Other legislation
Amended by Consumer Rights Act 2015
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Revised text of statute as amended

The Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 (c 26) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Contents

Background

The legislation was introduced to the House of Commons by Kevan Jones, MP for North Durham as a private member's bill. [4]

Provisions

It prevents shops over 280 m2 from opening on Christmas Day in England and Wales. [5] The act exempts convenience stores, shops at airports, railway stations and motorway service stations, farm shops and pharmacies for the sale of medicine. [6]

Reception

The legislation was supported by the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, a trade union representing shopworkers. [7]

Further developments

A private member's bill which would have given Boxing Day a similar status was debated in Parliament in 2016. [8]

References

  1. ↑ The citation of this Act by this short title is authorised by section 6(1) of this Act.
  2. ↑ The Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004, section 6(4)
  3. ↑ The Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004, section 6(3). The Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3235 (C. 143)), article 2
  4. ↑ "Bid to halt Christmas Day trading". BBC News. 26 March 2004. Archived from the original on 8 May 2004. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  5. ↑ "Christmas store ban set to be law". BBC News. 15 October 2004. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "ALL-PARTY SUPPORT FOR BAN ON STORES OPENING ON CHRISTMAS DAY". Local Government Chronicle . 29 March 2004. Archived from the original on 2 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  7. ↑ "Support urged for Christmas trade Bill". The Northern Echo. 14 June 2004. Archived from the original on 2 September 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
  8. ↑ "Boxing Day shopping ban petition being debated by MPs". BBC News. 12 December 2016. Archived from the original on 12 December 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
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