Medway Council's Tory leader has backed government plans to devolve powers over Sunday trading hours to local authorities, saying "the world moves on".

MPs will vote on the proposals in the House of Commons tonight, and, if approved, large stores will be able to open for longer than six hours.

Since 1994, small shops in England and Wales have been able to open when they want to on Sundays, but larger stores have been restricted to six trading hours between 10am and 6pm, if they break the rules they could be fined up to £50,000.

Leader of Medway Council, Alan Jarrett, said he was in favour of the plans. “My personal view is that Sunday trading is widespread already, the world moves on,” he said.

“I understand why some of the small traders will object but I don’t see it as a threat.”

But Medway Labour group disagrees with the proposals.

In October last year, Cllr Andy Stamp, Medway Labour’s spokesman for regeneration, community and culture wrote to the Secretary of State for business, Sajid Javid, calling upon the government to consider the effect the proposed changes would have on local businesses in the Medway Towns.

Cllr Stamp said: “People are concerned by the loss of earnings to local businesses as they are forced to open for longer to compete with larger national and international stores.

"They are concerned for retail workers who would be forced to work longer on Sundays leaving them to spend less time with family, and they’re concerned that Sundays will lose what makes them special and become just like every other day of the week. I share those concerns.”

We asked shoppers in Rochester High Street what they thought about the plans.

Jaime Chambers, 19, from Strood, said: “Shops should be open longer hours as it will encourage people to shop more. If employees have shorter shifts they can go and shop after work and it will help the economy.”

Trevor Dady, 78, from Halling, said: “Years ago I was of the opinion there should be no Sunday trading at all, I thought people should go to church but I know things move on and now I think increasing opening hours will do the economy some good.”

Adam Johnson, 22, from Strood, disagrees, he said: “They should stay as they are. People don’t want to go out on a Sunday it is a time for people to relax and spend time with their families.”

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.