Thomas Harding
Thomas Harding
Security and Policy Editor
London
Thomas Harding is the security and policy editor covering Westminster politics and European affairs. He has reported extensively on the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the British parliament. Before joining The National in 2020, he was a special adviser to the UK defence secretary, working on policy and communications in the Ministry of Defence. He was also defence correspondent for The Daily Telegraph, covering the conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Sierra Leone, the Balkans and Northern Ireland. He has a degree in international history.

Articles

European Space Agency astronaut Rosemary Coogan hopes to be part of space study team looking at developing countermeasures to ageing. Thomas Harding / The National
ISS astronauts will study ways to combat effects of ageing

British astronaut Rosemary Coogan tells The National about space station mission to study the body, plans for lunar landings and the search for dark matter

July 25, 2024, 1:59 PM
British soldiers on Nato exercise in Estonia. The head of the armed forces has argued that the army need the 'humility' to reform. Getty
British Army 'not as strong as we could be' as global threats grow

Armed forces chief Sir Tony Radakin calls for a force of massed drones and missiles, as new Defence Secretary warns UK military is 'much worse than we thought'

July 23, 2024, 3:19 PM
A Boeing 777X plane takes off at Farnborough Airshow where Keir Starmer has promised to train up a skilled British workforce. AP
Starmer vows to 'fire up' the training of a skilled UK workforce

British Prime Minister says country aims to reduce 'reliance' on migrant workers during speech at international aviation event

July 22, 2024, 1:23 PM
Hamish Falconer, the new UK minister for Middle East and North Africa. He vowed to 'do all I can' to bring an end to Gaza conflict. Hamish Falconer / X
Taliban hostage negotiator made new British Middle East minister

In first message to public, Labour Party high flyer Hamish Falconer vows to tackle 'devastation' of Gaza war

July 19, 2024, 5:00 PM
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer poses for a photo with Europe's leaders at the European Political Community Summit at Blenheim Palace. He has condemned the 'criminal empire' of gangs running illegal migration. Reuters
Britain hosts show of European unity at Blenheim Palace gathering

Prime Minister Keir Starmer sets out new battle lines against the 'criminal empire' of illegal migration

July 18, 2024, 3:55 PM
King Charles III waits to read the King's Speech, with Queen Camilla sitting beside him, during the State Opening of Parliament. AP
Starmer warns against 'snake oil charm' of populists in King's Speech

As blushing peer hastily switches off phone with King Charles III looking on, UK government launches host of legislation to boost economy

July 17, 2024, 4:06 PM
A British soldier on exercise in Poland. The weakened UK military will undergo a major review to help remedy its failings, the new Labour government has announced. Getty
UK defence review to spotlight flaws in weakened forces

Deep dive ordered by new government to find problems with military and remedy them as Russia threat grows

July 16, 2024, 2:49 PM
F-16s during a Nato exercise over the Baltic Sea. Eighty of the jets will be sent to Ukraine to help with its aerial battle against Russia. AP
Can new fighter jets shore up Ukraine's air defence against Russia?

As aircraft stocks run low, Kyiv will welcome the modern Nato jets amid Moscow's aerial barrages

July 12, 2024, 3:30 PM
A masked man protests against Benjamin Netanyahu's government in Tel Aviv. Britain's Labour government has to decide on whether to continue the Conservative challenge against the ICC’s arrest ruling for the Israeli Prime Minister. Reuters
UK's Labour gets more time for Netanyahu arrest warrant appeal

ICC had given previous Conservative government deadline for challenge to its jurisdiction over Israel

July 11, 2024, 4:20 PM
Pro-Palestine MP Iqbal Mohamed, left, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Thomas Harding / The National / Bloomberg
Pro-Palestine MP vows to quit if Labour brings peace to Gaza

New independent UK MP Iqbal Mohamed seeks guarantee Labour will work to bring change

July 11, 2024, 3:56 PM
Prof Richard Overy says that despite human advances, Europeans need to adjust to a new era of conscription, driven by the return of warfare between its states.
How conscription could stoke European youths' appetite for conflict

Prof Richard Overy has concluded a low appetite for war means the western alliance now needs conscription

July 10, 2024, 6:16 AM
Britain's Chancellor Rachel Reeves on a visit to a building site in Oval, south London. Photo: Kirsty O'Connor / Treasury
Reeves fires up investment agenda in first week as UK's Chancellor

Regarded as the political 'star of her generation', the Labour MP is pushing ahead with reforms on green energy and house building while making 'hard choices' to fix the economy

July 09, 2024, 6:00 AM
Britain's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer chairs the first meeting of his cabinet in 10 Downing Street, following a landslide Labour win in Thursdays General Election, in London, Britain, July 6, 2024. Reuters
Can Labour revive Britain? The challenges facing PM Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer's election celebrations are cut short as he immediately seeks to implement reforms with his new Labour government

July 07, 2024, 7:00 AM
The British Foreign Secretary David Lammy leaves 10 Downing Street following his appointment. Getty
Britain's new top team will have to 'learn extremely fast' to face global threats

The new foreign and defence secretaries will receive high priority briefing on the security issues the UK faces at home and abroad

July 05, 2024, 4:46 PM
Labour leader Keir Starmer speaks to supporters at the Tate Modern, central London, at a watch party for the results of the 2024 general election. PA
What Labour's victory means for the Middle East

Keir Starmer will face a series of challenges during his first weeks in office with risk of war expanding beyond Gaza

July 05, 2024, 7:12 AM