Christmas shoppers on London's main Oxford Street

MP Kevan Jones' says his Christmas Day (Trading) Bill aims to stop 25 December becoming "just another shopping day" and prevent shopworkers having to work.

The Labour MP says his Bill has cross party backing and the support of shopworkers' union Usdaw as well as the main established churches.

Stores currently only have to close if Christmas Day falls on a Sunday.

Competitive pressures

Mr Jones said Parliament must protect the "unique nature" of Christmas.

I don't think there's any recorded instance of anyone starving to death because Sainsbury's wasn't open on Christmas Day Kevan Jones Labour MP

Some large stores had begun testing the market in recent years and there was a danger of a "domino effect" with others following suit in the face of competitive pressures, he said.

Mr Jones added: "Christmas Day should be a unique day - the one day in the year when people can come together with their families.

"This Bill seeks to preserve the special nature of that day.

"I don't think there's any recorded instance of anyone starving to death because Sainsbury's wasn't open on Christmas Day."

Dozens of backbenchers turned out in the chamber to support the Bill.

Backing the measure, senior Tory Sir Patrick Cormack said it was wrong that shopworkers should face pressure to work on Christmas Day.

"This Bill merely seeks to protect those people who are the most vulnerable," Sir Patrick said.

For the Liberal Democrats, Lembit Opik said his party would have a free vote on the Bill.

He said he supported it "given that Britain already has fewer public holidays than other European countries".