He is wrong to suggest we gave him five minutes' notice to comment on our story. As soon as I knew we would be carrying Ethical Consumer's decision to rate Primark as the least-ethical clothes retailer, I phoned Primark's Ireland HQ. This was at 2pm, over five hours before our final deadline.
Asked to request a comment in writing, I sent an email at 2.59pm and heard nothing. Concerned that Primark would not be able to comment, I sent another email at 5.25pm.
Lancaster then called. By the time we finished discussing the story the article was about to go to print, but I ensured his comment was written in.
Martin Hickman, consumer affairs correspondent, The Independent.
