Hove MP Peter Kyle has criticised Sports Direct for trying to bug him and his colleagues by leaving a miniature recording device in a room where they were holding a private meeting.
The Labour MP was one of six members of the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee to make an unannounced visit to Sports Direct’s Shirebrook depot.
Mr Kyle spent three hours touring the site before heading to a private room for a discussion with his fellow MPs.
They were brought sandwiches by a member of Sports Direct’s staff – with a hidden extra ingredient. Only, it wasn’t all that well hidden.
One of the select committee members, Amanda Solloway, the Conservative MP for Derby North, took a photo of the bug.
Anyone for a cam & cheese sarnie?! At a private meeting of MPs after a visit to Sports Direct, we found this camera. Stupid & disappointing pic.twitter.com/B3QoyxWCof
— Peter Kyle MP (@peterkyle) November 7, 2016
Mr Kyle tweeted: “Anyone for a cam & cheese sarnie?! At a private meeting of MPs after a visit to Sports Direct, we found this camera. Stupid & disappointing.”
The select committee chairman – Labour MP Iain Wright – said that he spoke to Mr Ashley by phone after the incident.
Mr Wright told the BBC: “I don’t think it was a particularly pleasant conversation for either of us.”
Mr Kyle said: “We’re meeting tomorrow morning to discuss next steps.
“It was a bizarre day. Their weirdness got in the way of the genuinely good things they are starting to do.”
