Tobias was born in New York, USA (due to his parents overseas posting at the time). He grew up in Bonn, Germany and Vienna, Austria, but returned to the UK to complete his first degree at Loughborough University. Whilst at Loughborough Tobias was elected President of the Students' Union.

He spent five years in the Army with The Royal Green Jackets, head quartered in Winchester and served in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Kuwait, Germany, Gibraltar and Bosnia.

On leaving the army Tobias worked as a researcher for the former Defence Secretary, the Rt Hon Tom King MP (now Lord King) in Westminster and also in his constituency of Bridgwater.

He returned to university to complete an MBA at City University Business School. Tobias then moved to the London Stock Exchange for two years where he was a Senior Business Development Manager and then for the law firm Allen and Overy.

Tobias was elected as Member of Parliament for Bournemouth East in May 2005. In January 2006 he was appointed Opposition Whip and in July 2007 was promoted to Shadow Minister for Culture Media and Sport.

Tobias is married and lives in Strouden. He is a governor at the Queen's Park Infant School and has also been a borough councillor.