Tom Tugendhat is the Conservative MP for Tonbridge, having first been elected to parliament for the predecessor seat of Tonbridge and Malling at the 2015 general election.

In the 2024 general election, Tugendhat received 20,517 votes, representing 40.8% of the vote share. The Labour candidate, Lewis Bailey, received 9,351 votes (18.6%), while the Green candidate, Anna Cope, secured 7,596 votes (15.1%). Tugendhat was duly re-elected with a majority of 11,166 votes.

The Tonbridge constituency is located in west Kent and includes the town of Tonbridge itself along with surrounding villages. It is an affluent area with a high number of London commuters. Tonbridge School is located within the constituency.

Political Career

Tugendhat currently serves as shadow secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs. Tugendhat was appointed to this role as part of the August/September 2026 shadow cabinet reshuffle, Kemi Badenoch’s second as Conservative leader.

Tugendhat previously served as shadow security minister from July to November 2024 on the interim/caretaker frontbench appointed by Rishi Sunak after the general election of the year.

Prior to the 2024 general election, which saw the Conservatives ejected from government, Tugendhat served as minister of state for security in the Home Office (September 2022 – July 2024), attending cabinet under prime ministers Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.

Tugendhat chaired the influential foreign affairs select committee from July 2017 to September 2022. In this way, he became a prominent commentator on foreign policy issues and a notable critic of the government’s approach to China. By virtue of this role, Tugendhat sat on the liaison committee across the same period.

Tugendhat was a founding member and co-chair of the China Research Group (CRG). The CRG was established in 2020 by a group of Conservative MPs to promote a more critical and questioning approach to the UK’s relationship with the People’s Republic of China. The CRG described its mission as aiming to “promote understanding, leading to fresh thinking about issues raised by the rise of China, and provide a trustworthy source of news and informed knowledge on China issues.”

In March 2021, Tugendhat was one five MPs to be sanctioned by the Chinese government. The sanctions were said to be a direct retaliation for measures imposed by the UK, in coordination with the EU, US and Canada, on Chinese officials deemed responsible for human rights abuses of Uyghur Muslims in the country. Tugendhat described the sanctions as a “direct assault on British democracy and an attempt to silence the British people”.

On the backbenches, Tugendhat established himself as one of Boris Johnson’s most prominent critics.

Tugendhat stood in the 2024 Conservative leadership election. The contest was triggered by the resignation of Sunak following the party’s defeat in the 2024 general election.

Tugendhat was eliminated in the third parliamentary ballot on 8 October 2024 after receiving 20 votes. He secured the support of MPs including Andrew Mitchell, Alicia Kearns, Caroline Nokes and Nick Timothy.

In October 2024, addressing Conservative conference, Tugendhat vowed a “new Conservative revolution” that focused on delivering better public services. He said the party needed to “focus on what the British people need and be absolutely ruthless about delivering it, from health care and immigration to security and education”.

Tugendhat previously stood as a candidate in the July-September 2022 Conservative leadership contest. At this time, he was seen as the leading candidate on the party’s one nation wing. He was eliminated in the third parliamentary ballot on 18 July after receiving 31 votes. Tugendhat’s candidacy was supported by such figures as Damian Green, Jake Berry, Karen Bradley and Anne-Marie Trevelyan.

During the campaign, Tugendhat was the only leadership candidate who described Johnson as not honest during a Channel 4 debate. He also said that Johnson’s account of Partygate was “more fictional than reality”.

Tugendhat was the first Conservative MP to publicly declare their intention to run for the conservative leadership in 2022. He did so as early as January, telling Times Radio that he had not been “canvassing support”, but “of course, you should have a go”.

Tugendhat said: “It would be a huge privilege. It’s one of those questions that I know many people ask and some people, some of my colleagues, are coy about, and I don’t understand why.

“I don’t think you should be embarrassed to want to serve your country. I was very proud to serve my country in the armed forces, and I got to the highest rank I could so that I could have the best effect that I could.

“And I was very proud to serve as a diplomat around the world.”

Tugendhat was a member of the House of Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee (2015-2016).

Tugendhat is listed as a member of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for Estonia.

Tugendhat delivered his maiden speech on 11 June 2015 during a debate on the European Union (Finance) Bill.

In it, he said: “Our community is not cut off from modernity, but communications too often hamper rather than improve lives. Borough Green, for example, is shaken by heavy traffic while many across our area suffer from poor trains and failing phone signals.”

He added: “Having served in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq and latterly as military assistant to the Chief of the Defence Staff, I know that numerical totems are for accountants, not soldiers. It is capability that matters and that is measured in assets and readiness.

“As we face an uncertain future in a world in which Russia threatens our allies in the east and Islamic-inspired violent extremism is redrawing the maps of the middle east, we must not only have the ships, the soldiers and the aircraft but must be certain that they are ready.

“Only by demonstrating our readiness on exercises and operations can we reassure our friends and deter our enemies.”

Political Views

Leadership elections and loyalty

Tory leadership 2022 (I): After dropping out of the race, Tugendhat went on to support Liz Truss’ candidacy in the Conservative Party’s July-September 2022 leadership election. Truss, the then-foreign secretary, campaigned on a platform of sweeping tax cuts. After finishing second in the final parliamentary ballot with 113 votes, she won the subsequent vote of the party membership with 81,326 votes (57.4%) and was appointed prime minister on 6 September.

Tory leadership 2022 (II): Tugendhat supported Rishi Sunak’s candidacy in the Conservative Party’s October 2022 leadership election. The contest was triggered by the resignation of Liz Truss after just 45 days in office, following the financial and political tailspin triggered by her “mini-budget”.

Sunak, the former chancellor, had finished second to Truss in the previous contest. Unlike the summer contest, this election featured an expedited process requiring each candidate to secure at least 100 nominations from MPs to proceed. Sunak, having emerged as the clear frontrunner, was declared leader of the Conservative Party unopposed on 24 October.

Tory leadership 2019: Tugendhat supported Michael Gove for the party’s leadership in 2019. The election was triggered by the resignation of Theresa May following her inability to secure a Brexit deal acceptable to parliament.

Gove, then the environment secretary, reached the final three of the parliamentary ballots. He was ultimately eliminated in the fifth ballot on 20 June, receiving 75 votes – just two fewer than Jeremy Hunt.

Tory leadership 2016: Tugendhat supported May for the party’s leadership in July 2016. The contest was triggered by the resignation of David Cameron following the UK’s vote to leave the European Union.

May, the then-home secretary, secured a commanding lead in the parliamentary stages, receiving 165 votes in the first ballot and 199 in the second. Following the withdrawal of her final rival, Andrea Leadsom, on 11 July, May was declared leader unopposed and was appointed prime minister two days later.

Factional identity and party tradition

Tory Reform Group: Tugendhat is listed as a member of the Tory Reform Group (TRG) – a pressure group within the Conservative Party that represents the “one nation” tradition of political thought. Historically associated with senior party figures such as Kenneth Clarke and Michael Heseltine, the TRG was established in 1975 to champion socially progressive and centrist policies – acting as an intellectual counterweight to the emerging free-market, Thatcherite wing of the party.

One Nation Conservative: Tugendhat has been listed as a member of the One Nation Conservatives caucus of moderate Tory MPs. The group was established in 2019 to provide a voice for the party’s more pragmatic and professedly “moderate” elements – a factional counter-weight to its ideological free-market, eurosceptic and socially conservative groups. In the 2019 to 2024 parliament, the group was chaired by former first secretary of state Damian Green, who went on to lose his seat at the 2024 general election.

Conservative Environment Network: Tugendhat is listed as a member of the Conservative Environment Network (CEN) parliamentary caucus. CEN is an independent forum for conservatives that supports conservation and decarbonisation. It calls for the environment to be given a higher profile at the heart of policy making, describing “biodiversity loss, climate change, and wasteful resource use are threats to our national security”, and promotes “market-based policies” to environmental challenges. Members of its parliamentary caucus, such as Tugendhat, are thought to generally align with the group’s “green” message and environmentalism.

Bright Blue: Tugendhat has been listed as a parliamentary supporter of Bright Blue, an independent centre-right think tank and membership organisation that champions liberal conservatism in the UK. Since its founding in 2014, the organisation has expanded its reach through a new cross-party strategy.

Blue Collar Conservatives: Tugendhat was previously listed as a member of the Blue Collar Conservatives group. This faction within the Conservative party was founded in 2012 by the former cabinet minister Esther McVey, but came to greater prominence following the 2019 general election. The group aimed to “champion working people and develop a conservative agenda to benefit the voters and communities most neglected by Labour”. In October 2022, McVey was succeeded by Lee Anderson as the group’s chair.

Brexit and Europe

Brexit referendum: Tugendhat supported Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and therefore disagreed with a majority of constituents, 52.9% of whom voted to Leave.

Article 50: In February 2017, Tugendhat voted in favour of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill. The legislation empowered the prime minister to notify the Council of the European Union of the UK’s intention to withdraw, formally triggering the process set out in Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. MPs supported the bill by 498 votes to 114 at second reading.

Brexit Delivery Group: Tugendhat was a member of the Brexit Delivery Group of Conservative MPs – a faction of Conservative MPs active during the parliamentary battles over the UK’s withdrawal from the EU between 2018 and 2019. Co-chaired by MPs Andrew Percy and Simon Hart, the group was formed as a pragmatic, pro-deal voice within the parliamentary party – seeking to act as a counterweight to the influence of the hardline European Research Group (ERG).

Customs union vote (2025): In December 2025, Tugendhat voted against the UK-EU Customs Union (Duty to Negotiate) Bill. The bill, introduced under the ten-minute rule procedure by Liberal Democrat Europe spokesperson Al Pinkerton, sought to mandate the government to enter into negotiations with the European Union to establish a bespoke customs union.

Assisted dying

Tugendhat voted against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, better known as the assisted dying bill, at both second reading (November 2024) and third reading (June 2025).

Social values and conscience issues

Abortion decriminalisation (2025): Tugendhat voted against a backbench amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill that sought to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales in June 2025. The amendment, which was passed by a majority of 242 votes, removed women from the threat of prosecution for ending a pregnancy at any stage. As an issue of conscience, MPs were allowed to vote according to their personal beliefs.

Foreign policy and security

Trident renewal (2016): Tugendhat voted in favour of a government motion calling for the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent system in July 2016. The motion, which was passed by 472 votes to 117, committed the UK to constructing a new fleet of submarines to carry the nation’s nuclear weapons.

Syria airstrikes (2015): Tugendhat voted in favour of a government motion to extend UK airstrikes against Isis from Iraq into Syria in December 2015. The motion, which was passed by 397 votes to 223 after a ten-hour debate in the House of Commons, authorised the RAF to conduct strikes against Isis targets in Syria.

Civil liberties

Covid passes vote (2021): Tugendhat was one of 99 Conservative MPs to vote against Covid passes in England in December 2021.

Before Politics

Born Thomas Georg John Tugendhat in Westminster, London, on 27 June 1973, he was educated at St Paul’s School, London.

He studied theology at the University of Bristol. He subsequently studied for a master’s degree in Islamic studies at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.

His early career included working as a journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon.

Before entering parliament, Tugendhat served in the Territorial Army as an officer in the intelligence corps, reaching the rank of major. His service included operational tours in both the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan.

Tugendhat worked in Afghanistan establishing the Helmand provincial government and later served as military assistant to the chief of the defence staff. He was awarded an MBE in 2010.

Tugendhat transferred from the Army Reserve to the Royal Naval Reserve in April 2022.

Personal Life

Tugendhat is married to Anissia Morel, a senior French civil servant. They have two children, a son and a daughter.

Tugendhat holds dual British and French citizenship through his wife.

His father is Sir Michael Tugendhat, a retired high court judge, and his uncle is Lord Tugendhat, a Conservative peer and former European Commissioner.

Tugendhat identifies as a Catholic.

Trivia

Tugendhat is friends with Labour MP Dan Jarvis, with whom he served in Afghanistan.

Tugendhat told PoliticsHome in 2017: “I have been close to Dan for many years. I disagree with him on an awful lot. But he’s a great guy.”

Jarvis said of Tugendhat: “I think he’s someone who’s got a very big contribution to make to parliament, a very significant contribution more generally to public life.

“He’s a very impressive character, in the sense that he’s got a real degree of professionally credible life experience, which he brings to bear. And he’s got good judgment. He’s someone who’s got a lot to offer.”