‘The idea, the suggestion, that there had been some spying on MPs, the worry is a big one and that’s subject to inquiry and I await the results’

LABOUR leader Jeremy Corbyn could wait another five years before he knows the truth about allegations that an undercover police unit spied on him in the 1990s.

In April 2015, spy-cop turned whistleblower Peter Francis said that between 1993 and 1997 he collected information on three London MPs – Mr Corbyn, Diane Abbott and the late Bernie Grant.

A public inquiry into police spying and the operation of the Special Demonstration Squad (SDS), led by Lord Justice Pitchford, was announced in March 2015 after controversy surrounding the conduct of undercover officers.

At the time, Mr Corbyn said he wanted to know who at the Metropolitan Police authorised the spying and whether there was any co-operation between the SDS and MI5. But this week, the Tribune was told the inquiry did not expect to start hearings until 2019. They are likely to last for three years.

Mr Corbyn told the Tribune he was none the wiser about the truth surrounding the spying claims – two years after they were first made.

“I’ve not received any report,” he said. “It is claimed that I was under surveillance, particularly for work on anti-apartheid. I’m obviously very concerned about the allegations made by Peter Francis and I want to see what the outcome of it all is, but as of this moment I don’t know what they are.

“The idea, the suggestion, that there had been some spying on MPs, the worry is a big one and that’s subject to inquiry and I await the results.”

Mr Francis, who worked in the Met’s shadowy SDS, said he watched MPs while infiltrating anti-racist groups such as Youth Against Racism in Europe (YRE). Seven other politicians, including former home secretary Jack Straw, were also spied on, it is claimed.

During this time Mr Corbyn supported anti-racist organisations including YRE and often spoke at their meetings.

Asked whether he thought spying on MPs could still be going on, Mr Corbyn added: “I would hope not.”

A spokeswoman for the Pitchford Inquiry said: “The chairman is of the view that the work of the inquiry is too important to artificially squeeze into a three-year timeframe, and that the inquiry is unlikely to report by 2018. Core participants have also expressed concerns to the inquiry that a compacted timescale would not allow for a thorough investigation.

“The inquiry held a preliminary hearing on April 5 and 6 to hear arguments following a request from the Metropolitan Police for an extension of time for restriction order applications [for anonymity]. In his ruling the chairman said he is disappointed by the lack of progress to date, but has agreed to their request for an extension of time.”