The People vs McDonald's (McLibel case + Spycops)

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001zlz0/episodes/player

Just listened to the whole thing. Six half-hour episodes. Presented by Mark Steel. Extensive interviews with Helen Steel (no relation) and Dave Morris, the defendants in the McLibel case. Helen also talks at some length about the Spycops scandal. She is an amazing woman. McDonald's didn't know what they were getting into when they took her on.

Thanks @Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g. I'll add that to my lIstening List.

Thanks - sounds really interesting

I’ve only listened to the first episode and as soon as an activist with a van was mentioned my suspicions are that they are undercover. They have access to the same resources that other undercover cops had access to in other cases . There is definite pattern in how undercover cops seemed to be equipped in the same way .

in other podcasts/cases of spying , some activists noticed these commonalities across different activist groups and voiced this . Had they had the means of communication we have now they would have been rumbled far more easily .

I listened to all the episodes today. Really riveting podcast! And Keir Starmer makes an appearance too!

I dimly remembered some details, but had no idea about 99% of what actually happened.

I caught the first episode yesterday. It was excellent in setting out the beginnings. I'll definitely be catching the rest.

I was at uni at the time and working part-time at McDonalds. We were told to be on the lookout for any leaflets and if anyone asked us about them to just say we knew nothing about it.

I haven't listened yet but I've downloaded the episodes to listen to on a long drive I've got in a couple of weeks.

This was an excellent recommendation, thank you. I am so angry and disgusted, especially on behalf of Helen Steel. I sort of "knew" this story - both parts of it - but this telling of it was well worth the listen, fleshed everything out. So much respect for Helen and Dave.

If anyone wants to go more deeply into this, the Undercover Policing Inquiry, looking into this, and other very serious activities by the Police, is ongoing: www.ucpi.org.uk/.

https://www.youtube.com/@undercoverpolicinginquiry9441/streams

Of particular interest is the evidence given by Bob Lambert in December. There are streams available for some of 3 to 6 December. The reason he continues to be of particular interest is that there are still questions over whether he might have masterminded an infamous arson attack by the Animal Liberation Front.

https://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2024/12/01/undercover-policing-inquiry-bob-lambert-primer/

Just listened to part 4. That ended a quite a note.

This really is a terrific radio series. I'm finding myself being continually surprised even when hearing things I already knew. It might end up being my radio programme of the year.