Tom Tugendhat

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Lieutenant Colonel
Tom Tugendhat
MBE VR MP
Official portrait of Tom Tugendhat crop 2.jpg
Official portrait, 2017
Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee
Assumed office
12 July 2017
Preceded byCrispin Blunt
Member of Parliament
for Tonbridge and Malling
Assumed office
7 May 2015
Preceded byJohn Stanley
Majority26,941 (47.3%)
Personal details
Born
Thomas Georg John Tugendhat

(1973-06-27) 27 June 1973 (age 48)
Westminster, London, England
Citizenship
Political partyConservative
Spouse(s)Anissia
Children2
RelativesSir Michael Tugendhat (father) The Right Honourable The Lord Tugendhat (uncle)
ResidenceEdenbridge
Alma materUniversity of Bristol (BA)
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (MPhil)
Websitetomtugendhat.org.uk
Military career
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service2003–2013
RankBritish Army OF-4.svg Lieutenant Colonel
Service number560649
UnitTerritorial Army, Adjutant General's Corps
Intelligence Corps
Battles/warsIraq War
War in Afghanistan
AwardsMember of the Order of the British Empire (2010)
Volunteer Reserves Service Medal (2013)

Thomas Georg John Tugendhat[1] MBE VR (born 27 June 1973) is a British Conservative Party politician serving as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee since 2017. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tonbridge and Malling since 2015.[2] Before entering politics, he worked as a journalist and as a public relations consultant in the Middle East. He also had a part-time role as an officer in the British Army reserves, the Territorial Army, and served in the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan.

Early life and education[]

Tom Tugendhat is the son of Sir Michael Tugendhat, the High Court judge, and his French wife, Blandine de Loisne.[3] He is the nephew of Lord Tugendhat, a businessman and fellow Conservative politician. After attending St Paul's School, London, Tugendhat studied Theology at the University of Bristol, before doing a Masters degree course in Islamic studies at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, and learning Arabic in Yemen.[4]

Tugendhat holds dual British and French citizenship. His wife is a French judge and senior civil servant, and his father-in-law is a French diplomat, the lead Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe mediator in Ukraine.[5] Tugendhat is a Catholic, with Jewish ancestry.[6][7]

Military career[]

Tugendhat (left) in background as General Sir David Richards speaks to Chuck Hagel in 2013

On 6 July 2003, Tugendhat was commissioned into the Educational and Training Services Branch of the Adjutant General's Corps, Territorial Army, British Army, as a second lieutenant (on probation).[8] His Territorial Army commission was confirmed on 16 July 2003.[9] He transferred to the Intelligence Corps on 29 July 2003.[10]

He was promoted to lieutenant on 16 July 2005,[11] captain on 1 April 2007,[12] and to major on 1 January 2010.[13] He was a Territorial Army lieutenant colonel by July 2013.[14]

Tugendhat served during the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan. He also served, in a civilian capacity, for the Foreign Office in Afghanistan and helped set up the National Security Council of Afghanistan and the government in Helmand Province.[15] He later served as one of the military assistants to the Chief of the Defence Staff.[16]

Political career[]

Tugendhat was elected as the Member of Parliament for Tonbridge and Malling, the safe Conservative seat in Kent, at the 2015 General Election, with an increased vote share and larger majority than his predecessor.[citation needed]

In October 2015, Tugendhat accused Iran of arming insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan:

"Through the Quds Force, the special forces unit of the regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, it has killed British troops and plotted to assassinate diplomats in Washington DC. The ayatollahs have nurtured terrorists around the world."[17]

Tugendhat supported continued membership of the European Union in the 2016 referendum.[18] He voted in favour of the withdrawal agreement negotiated by Theresa May's government on each of the three occasions it was put to a vote.[19]

Tugendhat is a strong supporter of Israel. He condemned the United Nations Security Council for its official criticism of Israel's settlement building in the occupied Palestinian territories.[20] In January 2017, he wrote that the Israeli–Palestinian conflict "doesn't matter" in an article about the demands of protestors in the Arab Spring and concluded that "Why was it more pressing than other disputed territories such as Western Sahara, Kashmir or Tibet? It isn't. It simply deflects attention for those most in need of a diversion".[20]

On 12 July 2017, Tugendhat was elected chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, becoming the youngest person ever to hold the post.[21] Soon after the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury by a nerve agent, Tugendhat said the attack was "if not an act of war … certainly a warlike act by the Russian Federation".[22]

In February 2018, Tugendhat praised Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman:

"He is rightly showing a vision for Saudi Arabia that sees her taking her place as a player in the global economy and I think that is incredibly positive, not just for Saudi Arabia, but for the world."[23]

Under Tugendhat's chairmanship the Foreign Affairs Committee has focused on British foreign policy priorities after Brexit.[24] Other significant enquiries have covered: the implications of China's growing role in the international system,[25] the UK's relationship with India,[26] and the Responsibility to Protect.[27]

On 21 May 2018, the Foreign Affairs Committee published a report on Russian corruption and the UK. This drew attention to the ability of President Vladimir Putin and his allies to launder assets through London, and called on the UK Government to "show stronger political leadership in ending the flow of dirty money into the UK".[28] The report criticised the law firm Linklaters for its unwillingness to give evidence to the committee about the nature of working in the Russian Federation today.[29]

On 29 May 2018, Tugendhat set out his own views on British foreign policy in a speech at the Royal United Services Institute.[30] He advocated giving the Foreign and Commonwealth Office greater powers to determine overall foreign policy strategy.[31]

On 7 November 2018, Tugendhat gave a speech on "community conservatism" at an event organised by the Social Market Foundation.[32] In it he described how his military experience had drawn him into politics and outlined several ways in which the government could encourage businesses to better serve the communities in which they operate.[33]

Tugendhat was a participant at the 30 May–2 June 2019 Bilderberg Meeting in Montreux, Switzerland.[34]

Following the December 2019 general election, Tugendhat criticised the antisemitism he had faced during the campaign:

"It was a campaign that wasn't always as clean as previous ones. For the first time I faced antisemitism, which I found particularly offensive and very surprising for a community like this and frankly rather distasteful. It's very un-Tonbridge, it's very un-Kent and it's very un-British. ... I would hope that type of attitude is going to leave our politics for good."[35]

Tugendhat was re-elected chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee on 29 January 2020.[citation needed]

In a recorded conversation with American politician Mike Gallagher, Tugendhat gave an off-the-cuff outline of his foreign policy outlook as:

"...trying to defend the world in which the values that matter to the people of the United Kingdom, and more particularly, the people of Kent, prosper. And those values are freedom, democracy, the ability to challenge authority and the ability to trade and travel globally."[36]

In the wake of the Fall of Kabul in August 2021, Tugendhat described the event in The Times as Britain's "biggest foreign policy disaster since Suez".[37] On 18 August, in the House of Commons, Tugendhat was applauded after giving a powerful speech that drew on his own military experiences in Afghanistan. It concluded, "This doesn't need to be defeat, but right now it damn well feels like it."[38]

China[]

In April 2020, Tugendhat founded the China Research Group alongside fellow Conservative MP Neil O'Brien.[39][40] The group was formed to gain a "better understanding of China's economic ambitions and global role". This is to include Huawei's role in the UK's 5G network (see: Concerns over Chinese involvement in 5G wireless networks), China's COVID-19 disinformation campaign, and its foreign policy, in particular its relations with poorer regions of the world.[41][42] Tugendhat is considered by some to be a China hawk in the British Parliament, alongside Bob Seely and Sir Iain Duncan Smith.[43]

In August 2020, Tugendhat received a letter at his home address, sent from Hong Kong and containing a prayer regarding his criticism of China's policies. On Twitter, Tugendhat said that this was sent by the Chinese authorities to threaten him, though this was not independently verified.[44][45]

On 26 March 2021, it was announced that Tugendhat was one of five MPs to be sanctioned by China for spreading what it called "lies and disinformation" about the country. He was subsequently banned from entering China, Hong Kong and Macau, and Chinese citizens and institutions are prohibited from doing business with him.[46]

Honours[]

In the 2010 New Year Honours, Tugendhat was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).[47] In July 2013, he was awarded the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal for ten years' service in the Territorial Army.[48]

Order of the British Empire (Military) Ribbon.png Iraq Medal BAR.svg
Civilian Service Medal (Afghanistan).png OSM for Afghanistan w bar.svg QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.png Volunteer Reserves Service Medal.png

Ribbon Description Notes
Order of the British Empire (Military) Ribbon.png Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)
  • 2010
  • Military Division
Iraq Medal BAR.svg Iraq Medal
Civilian Service Medal (Afghanistan).png Civilian Service Medal (Afghanistan)
OSM for Afghanistan w bar.svg Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan
  • With clasp "AFGHANISTAN"
QEII Diamond Jubilee Medal ribbon.png Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
  • 2012
Volunteer Reserves Service Medal.png Volunteer Reserves Service Medal (VR)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "No. 61230". The London Gazette. 18 May 2015. p. 9123.
  2. ^ Tonbridge and Malling (UK Parliament constituency) profile, bbc.co.uk; accessed 16 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Tugendhat, Hon. Sir Michael (George), (born 21 Oct. 1944), a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division, 2003–14; Judge in charge of Queen's Bench jury and non-jury lists, 2010–14". Who's Who. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U38156.
  4. ^ Boffey, Daniel (10 May 2015). "How representative are our MPs now?". The Observer.
  5. ^ "Formal Minutes" (PDF). Foreign Affairs Select Committee. p. 54.
  6. ^ "My name teaches me old hate is still alive". blogs.timesofisrael.com. 20 May 2020.
  7. ^ May, Luke (13 December 2019). "Conservative Tom Tugendhat suffered antisemitism during Tonbridge and Malling General Election 2019 campaign". Kent Online. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  8. ^ "No. 57043". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 September 2003. p. 10846.
  9. ^ "No. 58002". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 June 2006. p. 7725.
  10. ^ "No. 57089". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 October 2003. p. 12991.
  11. ^ "No. 58008". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 2006. p. 8068.
  12. ^ "No. 59237". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 November 2009. p. 19393.
  13. ^ "No. 59537". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 September 2010. p. 17234.
  14. ^ "Page 14489 | Supplement 60575, 23 July 2013 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
  15. ^ "About". Tom Tugendhat MP. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  16. ^ Kirkup, James (1 November 2013). "Conservatives call up veterans to combat career politicians". The Telegraph.
  17. ^ "Iran's hidden war with the West – and what we can do to fight back". The Spectator. 24 October 2015.
  18. ^ Gimson, Andrew (7 September 2017). "Profile: Tom Tugendhat, successful insurgent and a possible future Tory leader". Conservative Home. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  19. ^ "How did my MP vote on withdrawal agreement?". BBC News. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Britain was wrong to back the U.N's anti-Israel resolution". The Spectator. 4 January 2017.
  21. ^ "What do the elections of select committee chairs tell us?". BBC News. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  22. ^ "Russian spy poisoning: Theresa May issues ultimatum to Moscow". The Guardian. London. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  23. ^ "Britain troubled by the threat from Iran, says UK foreign affairs chairman". The National. 12 February 2018.
  24. ^ "Reports and correspondence – Foreign Affairs Committee". UK Parliament. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  25. ^ "China and the Rules-Based International System – Foreign Affairs Committee – House of Commons". publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  26. ^ "Building Bridges: Reawakening UK-India ties – Foreign Affairs Committee – House of Commons". publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  27. ^ "Global Britain: The Responsibility to Protect and Humanitarian Intervention – Foreign Affairs Committee – House of Commons". publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  28. ^ "Moscow's Gold: Russian Corruption in the UK – Foreign Affairs Committee – House of Commons". publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  29. ^ "MPs criticise elite law firm Linklaters for work with Putin allies". The Times. London. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  30. ^ "Tom Tugendhat on Defending the Rules". RUSI. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  31. ^ "Boris Johnson 'hobbled by lack of Foreign Office power'". The Guardian. London. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  32. ^ "Tom Tugendhat MP's speech for the SMF". Social Market Foundation. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  33. ^ "Look to Greggs for inspiration to make country fairer, Tory MP says". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Press Association. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  34. ^ "Participants". bilderbergmeetings.org. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  35. ^ "MP reveals he suffered antisemitism during election campaign". Kent Online. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  36. ^ "A new look at the United Kingdom with Tom Tugendhat". Radio Public. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
  37. ^ Tugendhat, Tom (16 August 2021). "Tom Tugendhat on Afghanistan: Six decades after Suez, we remain impotent in the face of US policy". The Times. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  38. ^ "Boris Johnson feels MPs' anger during Afghanistan debate". BBC News. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  39. ^ Timsit, Annabelle (18 May 2021). "Glossary: The jargon, acronyms, and historical terms that frame the UK-China relationship". Quartz. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  40. ^ Timsit, Annabelle (18 May 2021). "Tom Tugendhat, the politician warning of China's 'cage-rattling'". Quartz. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  41. ^ "Coronavirus: Tory MPs to examine 'rise of China'". BBC. London. 25 April 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  42. ^ Pamilih, Julia. "China Research Group News". chinaresearchgroup.substack.com. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  43. ^ "Chinaskepticism is the new Euroskepticism". POLITICO. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  44. ^ @tomtugendhat (30 August 2020). "I'm getting letters sent from Hong Kong to my home. The content is anodyne but the message from @AmbLiuXiaoMing's Ministry of State Security friends is clear. "I know where you live" is something I've heard before. Threatening elected politicians is interference. It must stop" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  45. ^ Woodcock, Andrew (30 August 2020). "Tory MP claims anonymous letters from Hong Kong are bid by Beijing to intimidate him". The Independent. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  46. ^ "Uighurs: China bans UK MPs after abuse sanctions". BBC News. 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  47. ^ "No. 59282". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2009. p. 5.
  48. ^ "No. 60575". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 July 2013. p. 14489.

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