Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
Harriet Marsden is a senior staff writer and podcast panellist for The Week, mostly covering world news and writing the weekly Global Digest newsletter. Before joining the site in 2023, she was a freelance journalist for seven years, working for The Guardian, The Times and The Independent among others, and regularly appearing on BBC Radio London and Times Radio. She has a particular interest in gender equality and attended the 67th Commission on the Status of Women as a UN Women UK delegate.
In 2021, Harriet was awarded the “journalist-at-large” fellowship by the Local Trust charity, and spent a year travelling independently to some of England’s most deprived areas to write about local culture and community activism. She has a master’s in international journalism from City University, and an undergraduate degree in languages from the University of Cambridge, specialising in Latin American studies. She has also worked as a journalist in Bolivia, Colombia and Spain.
Latest articles by Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
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Switzerland could vote to cap its population
Under the Radar Swiss People’s Party proposes referendum on radical anti-immigration measure to limit residents to 10 million
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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Munich Security Conference: a showdown between Europe and Trump?
Today’s Big Question Report suggests European leaders believe they can no longer rely on the US for military support – but decoupling is easier said than done
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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Why is Prince William in Saudi Arabia?
Today’s Big Question Government requested royal visit to boost trade and ties with Middle East powerhouse, but critics balk at kingdom’s human rights record
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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Russia’s ‘cyborg’ spy pigeons
Under the Radar Moscow neurotech company with Kremlin-linked funding claims to implant neural chips in birds’ brains to control their flight, and create ‘bio-drones’
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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Power in a union: could Labour’s affiliates unseat Keir Starmer?
Today’s Big Question Trade unions are threatening to withdraw support from government and unite against prime minister
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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Can Europe regain its digital sovereignty?
Today’s Big Question EU is trying to reduce reliance on US Big Tech and cloud computing in face of hostile Donald Trump, but lack of comparable alternatives remains a worry
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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The battle over the Irish language in Northern Ireland
Under the Radar Popularity is soaring across Northern Ireland, but dual-language sign policies agitate division as unionists accuse nationalists of cultural erosion
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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Europe’s apples are peppered with toxic pesticides
Under the Radar Campaign groups say existing EU regulations don’t account for risk of ‘cocktail effect’
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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Norway’s scandal-hit royals
In the Spotlight Rape trial of Marius Borg Høiby, son of the crown princess, adds to royal family's ‘already considerable woes’
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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Gender politics: why young women are going Green
Talking Point Women under 25 are flocking to the populist left faster than young men moving to the populist right
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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World’s oldest rock art discovered in Indonesia
Under the Radar Ancient handprint on Sulawesi cave wall suggests complexity of thought, challenging long-held belief that human intelligence erupted in Europe
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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What is ‘Arctic Sentry’ and will it deter Russia and China?
Today’s Big Question Nato considers joint operation and intelligence sharing in Arctic region, in face of Trump’s threats to seize Greenland for ‘protection’
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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Is under-16s social media ban missing the point?
Today’s Big Question Pressure is growing on Keir Starmer to follow Australia’s lead but sceptics say government should focus on tech companies and children’s offline lives
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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The high street: Britain’s next political battleground?
In the Spotlight Mass closure of shops and influx of organised crime are fuelling voter anger, and offer an opening for Reform UK
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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Who is to blame for Maccabi Tel Aviv fan-ban blunder?
Today’s Big Question MPs call for resignation of West Midlands Police chief constable over ‘dodgy’ justification of ban from Aston Villa match, but role of Birmingham Safety Advisory Group also under scrutiny
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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Is the Chinese embassy a national security risk?
Today’s Big Question Keir Starmer set to approve London super-complex, despite objections from MPs and security experts
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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Is social media over?
Today’s Big Question We may look back on 2025 as the moment social media jumped the shark
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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Amorim follows Maresca out of Premier League after ‘awful’ season
In the Spotlight Manchester United head coach sacked after dismal results and outburst against leadership, echoing comments by Chelsea boss when he quit last week
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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Biggest political break-ups and make-ups of 2025
The Explainer From Trump and Musk to the UK and the EU, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a round-up of the year’s relationship drama
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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Democrats vs. Republicans: who do the billionaires back?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
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Russia’s ‘weird’ campaign to boost its birth rate
Under the Radar Demographic crisis spurs lawmakers to take increasingly desperate measures
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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Normalising relations with the Taliban in Afghanistan
The Explainer The regime is coming in from the diplomatic cold, as countries lose hope of armed opposition and seek cooperation on counterterrorism, counter-narcotics and deportation of immigrants
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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How did NHS maternity care get into such a state?
Today’s Big Question Interim report highlights discrimination and disregard for women’s choices, while experts warn of ‘culture of blame’
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
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In Suriname, the spectre of Dutch slave trade lingers
Under the Radar Dutch royal family visit, the first to the South American former colony in nearly 50 years, spotlights role of the Netherlands in transatlantic trade
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
Under the Radar
