Education
London-born, Selous was educated at Eton College and the London School of Economics, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Industry and Trade in 1984.
London-born, Selous was educated at Eton College and the London School of Economics, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Industry and Trade in 1984.
From 1988-1994, he was a director of his family firm Central Nervous System Electronics (now Central Nervous System Farnell). From 1991-2001, he was an underwriter at Great Lakes insurance company. Selous was first elected to the House of Commons in 2001, and had previously contested Sunderland North seat in 1997.
In 2006 Selous was promoted to Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions.
In the Coalition government he was the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Iain Duncan Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, from 28 May 2010 to 16 July 2014. On 16 July 2014 he was appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice with responsibility for Prisons and Probation and retained this role following the 2015 general election.
He provoked ridicule by making a tweet (subsequently deleted) supporting the removal of benefit entitlement from non-English speakers: "Strongly support the loss of benefits unless claimants lean English."
He also attracted criticism in 2014 for reportedly telling a meeting that "disabled people work harder because they"re grateful to have a job", following a furore over Lord Freud"s claim that some disabled people were not worth the minimum wage. Selous subsequently argued that he had simply been trying to convey the message that disabled people were valued by employers, and his observation that disabled people often work harder was supported by a spokesperson for Disability Rights United Kingdom. Selous chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Strengthening Couple Relationships, and argues that cross-party efforts to prevent family breakdown can relieve pressure on the care system.
He was opposed to the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Acting 2013, arguing that it was directly contrary to what Jesus said."t
Concerns over housing growth British Broadcasting Corporation News, 6 November 2003
Swiss assisted suicide "may be illegal" British Broadcasting Corporation News, 16 April 2003
Member of Parliament challenges Guides" age policy British Broadcasting Corporation News, 25 January 2002.
53rd United Kingdom Parliament. 54th United Kingdom Parliament. 55th United Kingdom Parliament.
56th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was a member of the Territorial Army, a soldier in the Honourable Artillery Company and then an officer in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, between 1981 and 1994.
He is a director and prominent member of the Conservative Christian Fellowship.