MI5 needs more funds to tackle rightwing terror threat, says watchdog

Committee says lack of resources affecting other areas of agency's work and calls situation untenable'

MI5 should be given increased funding to help tackle the rising threat of extreme-right terrorism, which now accounts for approaching a fifth of the spy agency's investigations, a parliamentary watchdog has said.

MPs and peers on the intelligence and security committee said the agency had been forced to progress other work - almost certainly relating to Islamist terrorism - more slowly and had been unable to expand other activities as it had hoped.