Yes, changes could be made to his plans – and probably will be. But the Chancellor is on the right side of a big, vital argument.
Osborne’s localist scheme has its attractions, but Tory backbenchers are angry, the Government risks losing the vote – and there is no mandate for it.
Total trade will not rise if shops are open longer: it will merely be spread to different parts of the week, and so will not add to GDP.