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, following that, to a similar role 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 the post of Shadow Minister for Culture Media and Sport where he is responsible for a portfolio including tourism, gambling and licensing.

Tobias completed the senior executive course in National and International Studies at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University in the summer of 2009 and in his role as an MP, continues to take an interest in military matters, specialising in post-conflict operations, and is a frequent visitor to the Middle East, in particular Iraq and Afghanistan. In October 2002 he lost his brother in Bali bomb attacks.

Tobias is married to Hannah and they have a son, Alexander who was born in October 2008. Their constituency home is in Strouden, Bournemouth. Tobias is a governor at the Queen's Park Infant School, Bournemouth and has also been a borough councillor.

Outside of politics, Tobias a keen sportsman and is training with the UK shooting squad for the 2012 London Olympics. He also enjoys the theatre plays the saxophone and is an Eagle Scout.