{{Short description|British politician (born 1966)}} {{About|the British politician|the American musician|Bob Seeley}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Use British English|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Robert Seely | honorific_suffix = MBE | image = Official portrait of Mr Bob Seely crop 2.jpg | office1 = Member of Parliament <br /> for Isle of Wight | parliament = | term_start1 = 8 June 2017 | term_end1 = 30 May 2024 | predecessor1 = Andrew Turner | successor1 = ''Constituency abolished'' | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1966}} | birth_place = Marylebone, London, England<ref>{{cite web |title=Robert William H Seely |website=FamilySearch |url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVWF-RTPD |access-date=7 November 2019}}</ref> | party = Conservative | relatives = J. E. B. Seely, 1st Baron Mottistone (great-great-uncle) | children = | alma_mater = King's College London | occupation = | profession = | signature = | footnotes = | allegiance = {{flagcountry|UK}} | branch = British Army | rank = Captain | website = [http://www.bobseely.org.uk www.bobseely.org.uk] | caption = Official portrait, 2017 | education = Harrow School | spouse = Nur (m. 2025) }}
'''Robert William Henry Seely'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Declaration of Result of Poll |url=https://www.iwight.com/news/DECLARATION-OF-RESULT-OF-POLL2|website=Isle of Wight Council|access-date=9 June 2017}}</ref> {{postnominals|country=GBR|MBE}} (born 1966) is a British Conservative Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Isle of Wight from 2017 until the constituency was split in two in 2024.<ref name=ch16>{{cite web|url=http://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2017/05/seely-wins-isle-of-wight-selection.html|title=Seely wins Isle of Wight selection|last=Wallace|first=Mark|date=5 May 2017|website=ConservativeHome|access-date=8 June 2016}}</ref>
Seely is a former journalist and soldier. From 1990 to 1995, he worked as a foreign correspondent in the USSR and in post-Soviet states. From 2008 to 2017, he served in the British Armed Forces on the Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and ISIS campaigns.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Bob Seely |url=https://www.bobseely.org.uk/about-bob-seely |access-date=25 April 2022 |website=Bob Seely MP }}</ref> In the 2024 general election, he stood for the new Isle of Wight West constituency but was defeated.
==Early life and career== Robert Seely was born in 1966 in Marylebone, London. He was privately educated at both Arnold House School and at Harrow School. He then studied at King's College London.<ref name="politics.co.uk">{{cite web | url= https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/seely-bob/ | title= Seely, Bob | work=politics.co.uk | access-date=26 February 2022}}</ref>
=== Military === [[File:Seely on active service in Iraq.jpg|thumb|Seely on active service in Iraq]] Seely served as both an NCO and officer in the UK Armed Forces. As a sergeant in the Territorial Army, he was awarded a Joint Commanders Commendation in 2009 for his tour in Iraq. He then served on the Afghanistan, Libya and ISIS campaigns.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bob Seely MP - Who is he? |url=https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/seely-bob/ |access-date=20 September 2022 |website=Politics.co.uk }}</ref> Seely was later commissioned as an officer.
Seely was awarded the Military MBE in the 2016 Operational Awards and Honours List whilst serving in the Intelligence Corps.<ref name="Oct2016">{{cite web|last1=Perry|first1=Sally|title=Bob Seely 'interested in standing' as Isle of Wight MP|url=https://onthewight.com/bob-seely-isle-of-wight-mp-candidate/|website=OnTheWight|date=19 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Honours and Awards 2016 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/61739/supplement/22384/data.pdf |publisher=London Gazette |date=21 October 2016}}</ref>
=== Academia === Seely has been a research associate at the Changing Character of War Programme at the University of Oxford.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://robertseely.academia.edu|title=Robert W. H. Seely|website=robertseely.academia.edu|access-date=23 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920115024/http://robertseely.academia.edu/|archive-date=20 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In June 2018 Seely produced a definition of Russian hybrid war, in a paper entitled "A Definition of Contemporary Russian Conflict: how does the Kremlin Wage War?"<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last=Seely |first=Bob |url=http://henryjacksonsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/A-Definition-of-Contemporary-Russian-Conflict-new-branding.pdf |title=A Definition of Contemporary Russian Conflict: how does the Kremlin Wage War? |publisher=Henry Jackson Society |year=2018}}</ref> The peer reviewed paper was produced by the Henry Jackson Society and presented in an event in the House of Commons on 4 June.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Definition of Contemporary Russian Conflict: How Does the Kremlin Wage War? |url=https://henryjacksonsociety.org/publications/a-definition-of-contemporary-russian-conflict-how-does-the-kremlin-wage-war/ |access-date=14 June 2020 |website=Henry Jackson Society }}</ref>
On 16 May 2019 Seely co-authored, with Peter Varnish and John Hemmings, an investigation into the Chinese tech giant Huawei and its possible role in the development of 5G.<ref>{{cite web |title=Defending our Data: Huawei, 5G and the Five Eyes |url=https://henryjacksonsociety.org/publications/defendingourdata/ |access-date=7 July 2019 |website=Henry Jackson Society }}</ref> The report, published by the Henry Jackson Society, recommended barring Huawei from involvement in the UK's 5G infrastructure network. The report was endorsed by both Sir Richard Dearlove and former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sabbagh |first1=Dan |last2=Henley |first2=Jon |date=16 May 2019 |title=Huawei poses security threat to UK, says former MI6 chief |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/may/16/huawei-poses-security-threat-to-uk-says-former-mi6-chief |access-date=7 July 2019 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
In July 2019 Seely wrote for the Royal United Service Institute (RUSI) on the Surkov leaks, analysing the leaked emails to provide "a guide to Russian subversive warfare".<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=The Surkov Leaks: The Inner Workings of Russia's Hybrid War in Ukraine |url=https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/occasional-papers/surkov-leaks-inner-workings-russias-hybrid-war-ukraine |first1=Alya |last1=Shandra |first2=Bob |last2=Seely |date=16 July 2019 |website=www.rusi.org }}</ref> Seely argued that: "Russia's modern practice of political subversion can be understood as a reinvention of 'active measures', a form of political conflict pioneered by the Soviet Union."<ref name=":1" />
Seely's PhD in International Security Studies was awarded by King’s College, London, in April 2022 for a thesis entitled: "Uniting Ways of War for Perpetual Conflict, An Examination of Contemporary Russian Warfare".<ref name="utting">{{cite news |title=Dr Kate Utting: Research Students and Staff |url=https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/kate-utting(6498f498-49f9-4a18-aead-c84e9d5b929a)/supervision.html |access-date=25 February 2023 |publisher=King's College London}}</ref>
==Political career== ===Early political career=== Seely's political career began as a personal assistant to Shaun Woodward, until Woodward's defection to the Labour Party in 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1999/dec/19/thatcher.politicalnews1 |title=How Hague lost a rising star|last=Wintour|first=Patrick|date=19 December 1999 |website=The Guardian|access-date=7 October 2018}}</ref> Following this he worked at Conservative Central Office as an adviser on foreign affairs to Michael Howard, Francis Maude and Sir Malcolm Rifkind.thumb|right|Seely at the 2017 General Election count at his Isle of Wight constituency In the 2005 general election, Seely stood as the Conservative candidate in Broxtowe, coming second with 37.2% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP Nick Palmer.<ref name="electoralcalculus2005">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2005 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}</ref>
===Local government career=== In 2013, he was elected for the Central Wight ward on the Isle of Wight Council for the Conservatives, and retained the seat in 2017. He resigned as a county Councillor in late 2017, once elected to Parliament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iwcp.co.uk/news/MP-Bob-Seely-to-quit-Isle-of-Wight-Council-role-317418.aspx|title=MP Bob Seely to quit Isle of Wight Council role|website=www.iwcp.co.uk |access-date=13 February 2018}}</ref>
=== Parliamentary career ===
==== First term as MP (2017–2019) ==== In the 2017 general election, Seely was elected to Parliament as MP for Isle of Wight with 51.3% of the vote and a majority of 21,069.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 April 2017 |title=Isle of Wight LibDem MP hopeful one of youngest in country |url=https://onthewight.com/isle-of-wight-libdems-mp-hopeful-one-of-youngest-in-country//}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Isle of Wight Green Party reselects Vix Lowthion as Parliamentary Candidate |url=https://isleofwight.greenparty.org.uk/news/2016/12/05/isle-of-wight-green-party-reselects-vix-lowthion-as-parliamentary-candidate/ |website=isleofwight.greenparty.org.uk}}</ref> In his maiden speech, Seely called for a better deal for the Isle of Wight from government.<ref>{{citation|last=Bob Seely MP|title=Bob Seely MP: Maiden Speech|date=5 July 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kab5YVgVPg|access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>
Seely's first vote as an MP took place on 28 June 2017, where he voted against removing a pay cap for police and fire services. This was deemed controversial by some following his comments during his election campaign where he praised the emergency services following the fire at Grenfell Tower.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://onthewight.com/bob-seely-mps-first-vote-in-parliament-no-fair-pay-rise-for-firefighters-nurses-or-teachers/|title=Bob Seely MP's first vote in Parliament: No to 'fair pay rise' for firefighters, police, nurses or teachers|date=29 June 2017|website=Isle of Wight News from OnTheWight|access-date=8 June 2019}}</ref>
On 12 July 2017 Seely established the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for UK Islands, to promote the interests of islands around the UK. The APPG aimed to encourage MPs and Peers from all political parties to join together to lobby government for their respective islands.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bobseely.org.uk/news/bob-seely-chairs-first-meeting-parliamentary-group-uk-islands |title=Bob Seely chairs first meeting of parliamentary group on UK Islands|website=Bob Seely MP|date=12 July 2017|access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>
In October 2018 BBC News Online reported that Seely had accepted two free overseas trips abroad costing £4,410, which included a trip to Bahrain paid for by its government.<ref>{{cite news|date=18 October 2018|title=MPs sign up for £2m of free overseas trips|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-45883411|access-date=23 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=House of Commons Register of Financial Interests|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/181217/181217.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326233602/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/181217/181217.pdf |archive-date=26 March 2020 }}</ref>
Also in October 2018, Seely hosted a press conference in parliament, in conjunction with the online investigative journalist website Bellingcat, to announce the identity of the second Skripal assassin suspect.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/51067442094?aff=efbneb|title=Bellingcat: Announcement of the Identity of Second Skripal Suspect|website=Eventbrite|access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-45791378|title=Second Skripal attack suspect 'is doctor'|date=9 October 2018|access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>
Seely was appointed the position of Parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to the Ministerial team at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in January 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://henryjacksonsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/HJS-Global-Britain-%C2%AD-A-Twenty-first-Century-Vision-Report-A4-web.pdf|title="About the Authors" p2 'Global Britain: A twenty-first century Britain'}}</ref> On 16 July 2019 Seely resigned from this position following his decision to vote against Government over HS2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/17776044.isle-wight-mp-bob-seely-resigns-government-role-refusing-back-hs2-high-speed-rail-plan/|title=MP Bob Seely quits government role after refusing to back HS2 plan|website=Isle of Wight County Press|date=17 July 2019 |access-date=3 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/07/17/resigned-government-position-oppose-hs2/|title=Why I resigned my government position to oppose HS2|last=Seely|first=Bob|date=17 July 2019|work=The Telegraph|access-date=3 August 2019|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>
In February 2018 Seely was elected to sit on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, whose remit is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bobseely.org.uk/news/bobs-vlog-16-hampshire-and-foreign-affairs-select-committee|title=Bob's Vlog 16: Hampshire and the Foreign Affairs Select Committee|website=Bob Seely MP|date=21 February 2018 |access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>
In July 2018 Seely was elected to the Committees on Arms Export Controls.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mr-bob-seely/4681|title=Mr Bob Seely MP|website=UK Parliament|access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>
Seely's manifesto, ''A Vision for the Island'', was published a year after he entered parliament, in July 2018.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 July 2018 |title=Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely publishes Island Manifesto |url=https://www.islandecho.co.uk/isle-of-wight-mp-bob-seely-publishes-island-manifesto/ |access-date=24 February 2019 |website=Island Echo }}</ref> In it, Seely set out how he believed that the Isle of Wight should develop over the coming decades, and covers areas such as housing, transport, health and education.<ref>{{cite web |title=My Vision for the Island |url=http://islandvision.uk/ |access-date=24 February 2019 |website=Island Manifesto }}</ref>
On 31 May 2019 Seely wrote an article for CapX stating that he was supporting Michael Gove in his bid to become leader of the Conservative Party.<ref>{{cite web |date=31 May 2019 |title=Why I'm backing Michael Gove |url=https://capx.co/why-im-backing-michael-gove/ |access-date=8 June 2019 |website=CapX}}</ref>
==== Second term as MP (2019–2024) ==== At the 2019 general election, Seely was re-elected as MP for Isle of Wight with an increased majority of 23,737, and an increased percentage of the vote of 56.2%.<ref name="Statement of persons nominated">{{cite web |date=14 November 2019 |title=STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED AND NOTICE OF POLL |url=https://www.iow.gov.uk/azservices/documents/1174-SOPN-UKPGE-A3.pdf |publisher=Acting Returning Officer |location=Isle of Wight}}</ref>
In early May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government announced that a contact-tracing app would be trialled on the Isle of Wight, a move for which Seely had lobbied Government.<ref>{{cite news |last=Perry |first=Sally |date=14 May 2020 |title=Contact Tracing App: 73,000 downloads so far, with 'significant number' by Islanders |work=On the Wight |url=https://onthewight.com/contact-tracing-app-73000-downloads-so-far-with-significant-number-by-islanders |access-date=6 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="ch20">{{cite web |date=20 May 2020 |title=Bob Seely: What the Isle of Wight has learned from trialling the NHS's Coronavirus App |url=https://www.conservativehome.com/platform/2020/05/bob-seely-what-the-isle-of-wight-has-learned-from-trialling-the-nhss-coronavirus-app.html |access-date=14 June 2020 |website=Conservative Home }}</ref> Prior to the lockdown, Seely had warned ministers to ensure the emergency supply to the island, and threatened to amend legislation unless the Government acted. Shortly after, the Department of Transport, the Isle of Wight Council and the IOW Transport Infrastructure Board announced an emergency package to support the island.<ref>{{cite web |date=24 April 2020 |title=Emergency fund of up to £10.5 million to support lifeline transport links to the Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/emergency-fund-of-up-to-105-million-to-support-lifeline-transport-links-to-the-isle-of-wight-and-the-isles-of-scilly |access-date=14 June 2020 |website=GOV.UK }}</ref> In a subsequent article on Conservative Home, Seely argued that working with central Government to pilot national schemes was the best way to ensure the Isle of Wight was able to be at the cutting edge of innovative tech to improve its quality of life, especially in healthcare.<ref name="ch20" /> He cited the use of drones to supply St Mary's Hospital and money for the island's telemedicine project.
On 22 May 2020 Seely and his then girlfriend (Iona Stewart-Richardson, at that time a reporter for Isle of Wight Radio) attended a gathering in the village of Seaview to speak to Freddy Gray, deputy editor of ''The Spectator''. By attending, Seely breached social distancing restrictions. He stated that he had gone to speak to Gray regarding his article about the app. Seely apologised two weeks later, saying that "I called this wrong". In an interview with Isle of Wight Radio, Seely said he "only had half a sausage" whilst in the garden and did not enter the house.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Simon |last2=Walker |first2=Peter |date=5 June 2020 |title=Tory MP attended lockdown barbecue with journalists |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/05/tory-mp-bob-seely-attended-lockdown-barbecue-with-journalists |access-date=14 June 2020 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title="I Had Half A Sausage" - Isle Of Wight MP Admits Attending Seaview Soirée |url=https://www.iwradio.co.uk/news/isle-of-wight-news/i-had-half-a-sausage-isle-of-wight-mp-admits-attending-seaview-soiree/ |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=Isle of Wight Radio }}</ref>
On 11 June 2020 ''The Times'' quoted Seely in a report that the NHS app may have had a role in suppressing the virus on the Isle of Wight. Seely told his local ''County Press'' newspaper that the analysis needed more research to ensure its accuracy. "In blunt terms", he said, "this is the best evidence we may get that the app saved lives of Islanders".<ref>{{cite news |date=11 June 2020 |title=Test and trace app: 'Some evidence of success' of Isle of Wight trial |website=Isle of Wight County Press |url=https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/18510418.isle-wight-coronavirus-app-some-evidence-success/ |access-date=14 June 2020}}</ref> On the same day, Seely spoke on a House of Commons debate on zoos, welcoming their reopening following the COVID-19 lockdown, and urging the UK Government to support zoos and animal sanctuaries on the island.<ref>{{cite web |last=Seely |first=Bob |date=11 June 2020 |title=11.06.20 Adjournment debate on the reopening of zoos, aquariums and wildlife sanctuaries |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0ab3rrhfj0 |website=YouTube}}</ref>
Seely contributed to an April 2020 study examining the strategic trade dependency on China of the "Five Eyes" group of nations.<ref name="Fisher">{{cite news |last=Fisher |first=Lucy |date=14 May 2020 |title=UK is too dependent on China for critical goods, Tories warn |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/uk-is-too-dependent-on-china-for-critical-goods-tories-warn-bz6vhfvc0 |access-date=14 June 2020 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> The report coincided with a letter written by Seely and a group of UK Conservative MPs to request the Government be legally required to update Parliament annually on the UK's strategic trade dependency on China and potentially other nations.<ref name="Fisher" /> The letter – which cited the Henry Jackson Society report – was signed by 21 MPs.<ref name="Fisher" />
Seely voted in favour of the Police Crime Sentencing and Courts Bill at the second debate on 16 March 2021. The Bill was considered controversial in media reports, in part due to the perceived restrictions it would place on protests and protestors. Seely was subsequently criticised on social media.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 March 2021 |title=Isle of Wight MP comes under fire for voting in favour of new Policing Bill that includes limits on public protest |url=https://onthewight.com/isle-of-wight-mp-comes-under-fire-for-voting-in-favour-of-new-policing-bill-that-includes-limits-on-public-protest/ |access-date=17 March 2021 |website=Isle of Wight News from OnTheWight}}</ref>
In June 2022 Seely voted to have confidence in the Conservative Party leadership of Boris Johnson after receiving council funding assurances.<ref>{{cite news |date=7 June 2022 |title=Bob Seely: Tory MP says he backed PM after council funding assurances |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-61723119 |access-date=8 June 2022}}</ref> In the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election during August of that year, Seely backed Penny Mordaunt and then Liz Truss to become leader and Prime Minister, arguing that Truss was the “candidate best able to deal with” the major issues facing the country, particularly on the economy and foreign affairs.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://onthewight.com/bob-seely-declares-who-he-will-support-in-the-final-two-conservative-leadership-race/|title= Bob Seely declares who he will support in the final two Conservative leadership race|date=1 August 2022|access-date=13 October 2022|website=www.onthewight.co.Uk}}</ref>
In the further leadership election in 2022 following the collapse of the Truss administration, Seely backed Penny Mordaunt.<ref>{{cite web |last=Grierson |first=Jamie |date=21 October 2022 |title=Johnson, Mordaunt or Sunak: who is backing whom as next Tory leader |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/21/boris-johnson-penny-mordaunt-rishi-sunak-who-backing-next-tory-leader |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022085912/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/21/boris-johnson-penny-mordaunt-rishi-sunak-who-backing-next-tory-leader |archive-date=22 October 2022 |access-date=21 October 2022 |website=The Guardian}}</ref>
Seely was listed Chair & Registered Contact of the APPG on Ukraine, which he joined 30 November 2022. As of February 2023, he also was listed on the Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax, Dark Skies, Events, Hong Kong, Iraq, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Russia, and South Western Railway APPGs.<ref name="uappg">{{cite news |date=22 February 2023 |title=Ukraine APPG |url=https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/APPG/ukraine |publisher=Parallel Parliament}}</ref>
Prior to the 2024 general election, the Isle of Wight constituency was abolished as a result of the 2023 periodic review of Westminster constituencies and were split into two constituencies. Seely stood for the Isle of Wight West constituency but was defeated by the Labour candidate Richard Quigley.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Isle of Wight West - General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001304 |access-date=2024-07-08 |work=BBC News}}</ref>
==Post-parliamentary career== Following his defeat at the 2024 UK General Election, Seely has worked as a Director of Strategy at defence company Trypillian.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/year-general-election-former-mps-now|title=One Year After The General Election: Where Are Former MPs Now?|last=Crowther|first=Zoe|date=6 July 2025|work=PoliticsHome|accessdate=21 April 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life== Seely was born to an English father and German mother. He comes from a family long involved in politics. His great-great-uncle, Jack Seely (later created 1st Baron Mottistone), was MP for the Isle of Wight between 1900 and 1906 and again between 1923 and 1924.
He is a keen swimmer and has swum the Solent a number of times for charity, most recently in August 2020<ref>{{cite web |title=BOB SEELY SUPPORTS SOLENT SWIM FOR WEST WIGHT SPORTS CENTRE |url=https://www.bobseely.org.uk/news/bob-seely-supports-solent-swim-west-wight-sports-centre |access-date=29 September 2022 |website=Bob Seely MP |date=14 August 2020 }}</ref> to raise funds for the West Wight Sports and Community Centre.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://westwight.org.uk/bob-seely-mp-joins-solent-swimmers/|title=Bob Seely MP joins Solent Swimmers – West Wight Sports and Community Centre|date=17 June 2018|work=West Wight Sports and Community Centre|access-date=9 September 2018|archive-date=10 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910071016/https://westwight.org.uk/bob-seely-mp-joins-solent-swimmers/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In July 2018 Seely took part in the parade for Isle of Wight Pride, where he was joined by Conchita Wurst. In an interview with ''Pink News'' following the event, Seely stated that he felt that "for dictators, gays are the new Jews".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/07/24/tory-mp-for-dictators-gays-are-the-new-jews/|title=Tory MP: For dictators, gays are the new Jews|website=www.pinknews.co.uk|date=24 July 2018|access-date=9 June 2019}}</ref>
In 2025 he got married in Brook, Isle of Wight to Nur.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-07 |title=Celebrations in Brook as former Isle of Wight MP gets married in village church |url=https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/25145626.former-isle-wight-mp-bob-seely-gets-married-village-church/ |access-date=2025-12-14 |website=Isle of Wight County Press |language=en}}</ref>
== Bibliography == * ''War and Humanitarian Action in Chechnya'' (Occasional paper) (Thomas J. Watson Jr. Institute for International Studies, 1996) {{ASIN|B0006QNGGS}} * ''Russo-Chechen Conflict, 1800–2000: A Deadly Embrace (Soviet Russian Military Experience)'' (Routledge, 2001) {{ISBN|0714680605}} * ''The New Total War: From Child Abduction to Cyber Attacks and Drones to Disinformation – Russia’s Conflict with Ukraine and the West'' (Biteback Publishing, 2025) {{ISBN|1785909487}}
==Honours==
{| class="wikitable" |- ||80px || Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) || 2016 |- |80px || Iraq Medal || |- |80px || OSM for Afghanistan || |- |80px || Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal || 2012 |- |}
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * [http://www.bobseely.org.uk Bob Seely] Official site * {{UK MP links |parliament=mr-bob-seely/4681 |publicwhip=Bob_Seely |theywork=bob_seely}}
{{s-start}} {{s-par|uk}} {{s-bef|before=Andrew Turner}} {{s-ttl |title=Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight |years=2017–2024 }} {{s-aft|after=''Constituency abolished''}} {{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Seely, Bob}} Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of King's College London Category:British Army personnel of the Iraq War Category:21st-century British male writers Category:21st-century British non-fiction writers Category:British Army personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Category:English people of German descent Category:Members of Parliament for the Isle of Wight Category:People educated at Harrow School Bob Category:UK MPs 2017–2019 Category:UK MPs 2019–2024