Defeat over Sunday trading heightens the pressure on George Osborne’s next Budget

The Chancellor is developing an unwelcome reputation among Conservative MPs and activists as error-prone.

In 1986, the then-Conservative government was defeated over plans to liberalise Sunday trading. Margaret Thatcher, the sitting Prime Minister, had a majority of 144.

Last night, the Conservative government was defeated over plans to liberalise Sunday trading. David Cameron, the sitting Prime Minister, has a majority of 12. 27 Conservative MPs broke the whip to hand the government a defeat.