Lord Bethell was first nominated to the European Parliament in 1975. He was then elected as the Conservative MEP for London North-West between 1979 and 1994 before being returned to Brussels as an MEP for London in 1999. He was a member of the House of Lords from 1967 until 1999 and also worked tirelessly as a campaigner on human rights issues as well as writing several books about Poland, Russia and Israel.

Lord Bethell worked as a Consultant to the Police Federation of England and Wales between 1989 and 2000 and also served as Chairman of the Friends of Cyprus and the Chairman of the Gibraltar in Europe Representation Group.

Lord Bethell speaks several languages and was educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge. Lord Bethell also acted as Lord-in-Waiting to the Queen between 1970 and 1971.

Hans-Gert Poettering, Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament presents the Robert Schuman Medal and Diploma to Lord Bethell, Strasbourg, 21st October 2003.