Undercover Officer Spied on Keir Starmer

A public inquiry has revealed that undercover police officer John Dines spied on Sir Keir Starmer while he provided legal advice to environmental activists Helen Steel and Dave Morris during the infamous McLibel case against McDonald's in the early 1990s. The case became the longest civil trial in British history, with McDonald's suing the activists over a leaflet that criticized the fast-food giant's practices, which ultimately backfired into a significant PR disaster for the corporation. Dines, who posed as an activist and had a two-year romantic relationship with Steel, was found to have relayed confidential legal advice to his superiors at Scotland Yard. This revelation raises serious concerns about the extent of undercover police operations, as it has been reported that the Special Demonstration Squad deployed numerous officers to infiltrate political and social groups. The inquiry will further investigate these actions and their implications, including whether the shared legal advice aided McDonald's in winning the case. Starmer has previously cited his involvement in the case during his political career, emphasizing his pro bono defense of the activists.