Of course he’s an operative.
And yes, worth noting the Five Eyes goosing a potential psyop that has long been promoted as a way to unite world under a single government. I think they’re still softening the ground and will likely only try the ploy a few years from now.
You don't know that. He may be completely insignificant to the MOD at this point and just babbling away to earn a wee living.
BTW, whether Pope is on the MOD payroll or not, he is still bound by his original NDAs.