Yesterday, the British MPs rejected Chancellor George Osborne’s proposal to extend Sundays’ working hours, in addition to the current 6-hour limit. Peter Smith, archbishop of Southwark, praises the decision taken by the House of Commons, which saw the government defeated with 317 votes against and 286 votes for the proposal. “I am glad – the bishop commented – that the MPs decided to protect the existing agreements, which meet the consumers’ needs, despite appreciating Sundays’ unique, important atmosphere”. “There is little evidence”, monsignor Smith points out, that “a further deregulation” of Sunday’s working hours would provide “tangible benefits to the United Kingdom”. “Today’s debate has shown” that extending Sunday’s working hours “would have a negative impact on family time, communal cohesion and religious groups”.