The High Court rules that MI5 and its director general, Sir Ken McCallum, will not face contempt of court proceedings, despite MI5 admitting its evidence was false in a case involving a neo-Nazi agent who allegedly threatened a girlfriend.
According to the court’s decision, MI5 had previously accepted that it provided false evidence to three courts. The ruling focuses on whether contempt action is in the public interest, rather than imposing contempt proceedings on MI5 or individuals.
Outlets differ mainly in emphasis. The BBC foregrounds McCallum’s reaction, including his view that the judgment underlines “serious failures” in this case. The Evening Standard highlights that the High Court also decides against contempt proceedings for individual officers. The Daily Mail and BBC both mention the admission of lying to courts, with the Daily Mail also stressing the neo-Nazi aspect.
