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O'Brien Lays Into Sports Direct "Battery Farm"
8 June 2016, 10:45 | Updated: 26 August 2016, 11:19
This is James O'Brien at his very best as he asks why we care more about battery hens than "battery humans" working in conditions like those at Sports Direct.
Mike Ashley, boss of the sportswear company, appeared before a committee of MPs yesterday where he answered questions on employees being paid shockingly low wages and docked pay if they were a minute late.
James O'Brien was reflecting on the story when the LBC presenter had a "penny drop" moment.
"Oh man. Oh boy.
"Do you remember yesterday when we were talking about pigs and the growing of organs inside pigs? Caller after caller after caller spoke to us about the welfare of the animals and how important it is to be certain that the bacon you're eating has not come from a pig that lived in squalor or lived in really unpleasant circumstances.
"This Sports Direct story is about human beings being battery hens. I think Britain probably feels worse about the battery hens than the battery humans.
"Not judging, because I'm guilty too. I probably can be more easily wound up about battery hens than I can about battery humans.
"This Sports Direct warehouse is a battery farm for human beings who are producing or packaging goods and pumps, trainers, instead of eggs.
"There's campaigns up and down the country: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
"Do you think we live in a country now where we need an organisation called People for the Ethical Treatment of Humans.
"How come we don't care more?
"We get upset about pigs and chickens being kept in circumstances that some of these Sports Direct workers would probably consdier luxurious."