Previously, he had served as chief whip of the opposition from 1999 to 2007, as chairperson of the federal council of the Democratic Party between 1997 and 2000, and as a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa between 1994 and 2008.
In 1970 Gibson was elected to the Transvaal Provincial Council for the Benoni Constituency as a member of the United Party.
[1] He was appointed chief whip of the DP caucus and spokesperson for Safety, Security and Justice.
[1] When parliament reconvened for the first time after the election, he nominated fellow DP MP Dene Smuts for Deputy Speaker.
Gibson continued to serve as chief whip until 2007, when Tony Leon stepped down as DA leader and Sandra Botha was elected to succeed him.