UK spy agency MI5 punished for lying to courts about a neo-Nazi informant

On July 16, 2026, the UK's spy watchdog IPCO formally punished MI5 for misleading courts and regulators about a neo-Nazi informant called "agent X." A 211-page review by Commissioner Brian Leveson found MI5's handling "fell far below" expected standards. Agent X, a foreign national who has since left the UK, attacked his girlfriend with a machete while exploiting his informant role.