[1] Upon leaving school, he entered the British Army, serving two years National Service, spending time stationed in West Germany.

[1] Formerly a Conservative before joining the Liberals in 1983, during the Liberal/SDP Alliance, Cotter was elected to Woking Borough Council in 1986, representing the Mount Hermon West ward.

After unsuccessfully contesting the seat in 1992, Cotter was elected the Liberal Democrat MP Member of Parliament for Weston-super-Mare in 1997.

[1] He was re-elected in 2001, but lost the seat to John Penrose of the Conservatives at the 2005 general election.

[citation needed] Cotter took an interest in a number of areas, and on various issues as they arose.