Lord Robertson of Port Ellen Was MP for Hamilton and Hamilton South from 1978-1999. He ended his career in the Commons as Defense Secretary of the United Kingdom from 1997-1999. This was followed by his appointment as the 10th Secretary General of NATO between 1999 and 2003. He is Deputy Chairman of the Board at TNK-BP.

After a ten year tenure as full time official for the General, Municipal and Boilermakers' Union he became an MP. He was made Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Social Services in 1979. This was followed by positions as opposition spokesman Defense from 1980 to 1981; Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from 1981 to 1993 and principle spokesperson on European Affairs from 1984 to 1993.

Lord Robertson served as Vice-Chairman of the British Council from 1985 to 1994. In 1993 he was named joint Parliamentarian of the Year for his role during the Maastricht Treaty ratification. He was awarded the Grand Cross of the German Order of Merit in 1991 and the Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania in 2000.

Lord Robertson served two terms as a President of Chatham House, until summer 2011.