Labour warns over relaxing Sunday trading laws Shadow Business Secretary, Chuka Umunna, urges government to Keep Sundays Special Labour MP Chuka Umunna, pictured right, has attacked the government after senior Conservatives openly suggested that Sunday trading hours should be permanently extended. A temporary extension to Sunday trading hours in England and Wales was introduced by the Government for the duration of the Olympic and Paralympic games earlier this year. However, No 10 has confirmed that ministers are looking at making the change permanent. Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, said that an extension should be “looked at.” the rights of people of faith, and to maintain at least Speaking to Churches Update, Chuka said: “Any some distinctiveness for Sunday.” extension to Sunday trading hours on a permanent basis will break up the consensus that was carefully Chuka’s comments received support from Justin King, put together after proper consultation over a long Chief Executive of Sainsbury’s who warned a period of time of businesses, unions, churches and permanent extension to Sunday trading hours was other organisations.” Recognising the importance of “not a magic answer to economic regeneration.” King Sundays to families and churches across the country, was writing in a letter to the Sunday Telegraph, in he said: “It will also mean the end of Sundays being which the Church of England and the Union of Shop, special and put pressure on families with 24 hour Distributive and Allied Workers and the Association of working across all of the retail sector seven days a Convenience Stores also expressed concern about the week. I hope the current restrictions will stay in place step. A consultation last year also concluded that most to protect families, employees, small businesses and people do not want longer trading hours on a Sunday. Churches help tackle the unemployment crisis Shadow Employment Minister praises the work of churches in helping jobless into work The Labour Party Faith Envoy and Shadow commend the work of churches in helping to combat Employment Minister Stephen Timms MP has praised the unemployment crisis: “It is against the backdrop of the network of church-based job clubs around the UK severe unemployment that I warmly welcome the who provide support to those seeking employment. commitment of churches – here and around the Stephen’s comments came after he attended the first country – to help meet the challenge of getting people anniversary of a job club at Glenorchy United back into work Of course, that commitment isn’t new. Reformed Church in Exmouth, Devon. He earlier It was William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, visited a Job Club at Axminster Methodist Church. who set up Britain’s first employment exchange.” Data recently released by the Office of National “Church congregations can offer networks of mentors Statistics showed that the headline rate of and contacts which can make a huge difference. We unemployment had risen to 8.1% since the Tory-led are not talking about simple acts of charity, but about government came to power. Stephen was keen to committed and personal support.” 1 Jim Dobbin MP : “RE must be a priority” Labour MP, Jim Dobbin, has called on the Government for RE to be treated as a “priority” subject. Last year, the government excluded RE from the English Baccalaureate, despite concerns from the Education Select Committee, teaching unions and religious groups. Speaking to Churches Update, Jim, pictured right, said: “It is crucial that young people are taught religious education as a priority subject in our schools.” Jim’s comments came after the launch of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Religious Education. The Group, which is supported by the questions are never going to go away.” Religious Education Council of England and Wales, will provide a medium through which MPs can focus Jim, who last year co-sponsored an EDM calling on on safeguarding the provision of RE in schools. the government to include RE as a core subject in the English Baccalaureate, agreed with Hannah: “The Speaking at the launch, John Keast, Chair of the literature, music, arts, architecture and history are all REC, cited a YouGov poll which showed that 63 elements of our faith story that help us to understand percent of 18–24 year olds agreed that RE was and appreciate our faiths and culture. We would be relevant and should be taught in schools. Hannah, a selling our children short if we failed to maintain this student present at the launch, agreed saying: “RE is vital subject within the mainstream curriculum.” eternally relevant. It focuses on questions that humans have asked each other and themselves for For more information about the APPG, please visit: as long as there’s been language, and those http://www.religiouseducationcouncil.org. News in brief Stephen Timms appointed Chair of CSM Ed Miliband criticises plans for more casinos Stephen Timms MP has taken over as Chair of the Leader of the Labour Party, Ed Miliband MP, has Christian Socialist Movement. He succeeds his criticised a report by the Culture, Media and Sport colleague Alun Michael MP who decided to step down Select Committee, which advocated further after 5 years at the helm. Speaking after his liberalisation of gambling laws. Following its appointment was announced, Stephen said: “I am publication, Ed said: “I was sceptical about absolutely delighted to be taking up the position of supercasinos originally and I’m sceptical about Chair of CSM. I’d like to thank Alun Michael for his introducing lots more casinos as a route to economic enormous contribution to CSM over the last five years, development. There are far better ways to and for his support of my Chairmanship. CSM has an encourage economic growth such as the introduction important role as a voice for Christians on the left of of a British investment bank which would ensure politics, and in shaping the attitudes and values of the money is constructively diverted to areas which need it Labour Party.” most.” Blair: “Christians should speak up and speak out” Transforming Capitalism Tony Blair has insisted that Christians should not be The Christian Socialist Movement has held its annual afraid to speak in public about faith. The former Prime Tawney Dialogue, this year entitled “Transforming minister told an audience in Westminster that “It is Capitalism: putting relationships back into economics.” important that we are prepared to speak up and speak On the panel were Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary, out from the position of faith and say we are not afraid Rachel Reeves MP, Former Treasury Minister, Lord to say this is what we believe and why we believe it.” Myners, and Revd Dr John Hughes, Chaplain of Jesus Tony was appearing alongside the Archbishop of College, Cambridge. Rachel told the audience: “The Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, to discuss the role of need for a better capitalism goes to something deeper religion in public life. The event was the latest in the than the technical economic arguments... It’s also a series of high-profile Westminster Faith Debates in moral argument about the kind of lives we lead, and London, organised by the former Labour MP, Charles the kind of society we want to be a part of—the Clarke. relationships that are the real fabric of our economy.” 2 Labour MPs welcome u-turn on “church tax” Labour MPs have welcomed an announcement by the such example was Wakefield Cathedral who would Chancellor, George Osborne, that the government will have had to have found an extra £20,000 to complete offer a £30m fund for alterations and repairs to the work that had already been started Church of England’s 12,500 listed buildings. The package is designed to offset a change in tax duty that Speaking after the announcement, would have seen churches pay a VAT rate of 20% on Labour’s Deputy Leader, Harriet church alterations. Harman, right, said: “This Government’s u-turn is a victory for A number of Labour MP’s wrote to the Chancellor after the campaign by churches and the Budget, in May lobbying him to keep renovations local communities against a wrong- on listed buildings, such as churches, exempt from headed proposal in George VAT. More than 18,000 people signed a Downing Osborne’s shambolic Budget.” Street petition against the changes which the Church Harriet is keen to push the government further: “The of England estimated would cost parishes £20 million a changes won’t help the National Trust, all the year collectively. An Early Day Motion, which urged the museums, galleries, theatres, libraries and community Government to reconsider the “counter-productive centres that are in listed buildings, and which are policy” was tabled by the Labour MP David Anderson important for heritage, tourism and local communities.” and received strong support from his colleagues. Anne Sloman, Chair of the Church Buildings Church groups had been quick to criticise the Council said, “We are grateful to parishes up and down Chancellor after it was revealed that the VAT raise the land who have lobbied so hard since the Budget to would affect projects that had already begun. One bring this point home to the government.” Conference 2012 diary Sunday 30 September ► 7.45 p.m: Make Food ► 10.45 a.m: The Conference Church Service Poverty History “Good News to the Poor—the Jesus Agenda” featuring Speakers include Joel Edwards from the Micah Challenge and music Mary Creagh MP, Chris Mould from Andy Flannagan. (Director, Foodbank Network) and Lindsay Boswell St Ann’s Church, St Ann Street, Manchester, M2 7LF (CEO, Fareshare) The Mechanics Institute, 103 Princess Street, M1 6DD ► 12 noon: CSM’s Conference Reception St Ann’s Courtyard (directly following the service) ► 10.00 p.m: Andy Flannagan in concert— Drowning in the Shallow ► 6:00 p.m: Dragon’s Policy Den CSM Director Andy Flannagan plays from his new An Opportunity for young people and students to album “Drowning in the Shallow” which entered the present their policy ideas to a panel including David iTunes singer-songwriter chart at number 6.