MI6 has made a rare public tribute to a Second World War spy as the head of the intelligence service said its successes need no longer remain private.

Alex Younger lead tributes to Frank Foley, who used his position as Berlin station chief before the Second World War to issue thousands of visas to Jews struggling to escape Germany.

In rare public comments, the chief of the Secret Intelligence Service told members of Mr Foley’s family and the Holocaust Educational Trust that it was difficult for the agency to tell of its successes, but the unassuming spy had been “a consummately effective intelligence officer”.

He said: “There is a mantra that surrounds MI6’s history that reads ‘Our successes are private, our failures are public’.

“The need for secrecy has sometimes helped create a pretty distorted and inaccurate narrative of the organisation’s achievements since its foundation in 1909.

“It’s a wonderful thing for MI6 that one of its most distinguished members’ successes are no longer private.”