Rt. Hon. Tom Tugendhat MP

Rt. Hon. Tom Tugendhat MP

Senior Advisor, Member of Parliament for Tonbridge and former UK Minister of State for Security
portrait of tom tugendhat

Tom Tugendhat has served the United Kingdom for over 25 years - in the Army, in Parliament, and in Government. He fought in Iraq in 2003 and in Afghanistan from 2005. In 2015, he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Tonbridge, and two years later, he was elected Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee. He was appointed Minister of State for Security in 2022 until 2024.

Throughout his career, Tom has focused on combating Islamist radicalisation, Iranian state-sponsored violence, and hostile activities from Russia and China within the UK. He has worked to protect Britain’s security, and was among the first to highlight foreign corrupt practices as a threat to national security, and to warn of the malign influence of authoritarian regimes.

As Security Minister, Tom led the passage of the National Security Act 2023, which modernised government powers for the first time in a generation. He also spearheaded efforts to combat online child exploitation, fraud, and cybercrime in collaboration with international partners. During his tenure, more spies were arrested than in the previous decade. As a result of his work, Tom has been sanctioned by Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran.

Before entering Parliament, Tom served as an intelligence officer and worked with the Foreign Office. He helped establish the National Security Council of Afghanistan and supported the formation of the government in Helmand Province. His final role in uniform was as Military Assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff, the professional head of the UK Armed Forces. He has also had successful ventures as a journalist in the Middle East and an angel investor.

Tom is a public speaker and writer who has advised on geopolitics and threats around the world. Tom studied Theology at the University of Bristol, followed by a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies at Cambridge University, including Arabic studies in Yemen.

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