[2] Cope contested Woolwich East in the 1970 general election, but was defeated by Labour's Christopher Mayhew.

[3] Cope served as Deputy Chairman and Treasurer of the Conservative Party from 1 November 1990,[3] succeeding David Trippier.

[5] He served as Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords, on the Conservative front bench, from 2001 to 2007, when he was replaced by Baroness Anelay.

His daughter Lucy was formerly married to Jack Lopresti, who was Member of Parliament for Filton and Bradley Stoke, one of Northavon's successor seats.

[8] He is a patron of The West of England MS Therapy Centre,[9] a charity helping those in Bristol and the surrounding areas live independent lives whilst coping with MS and other neurological conditions, Cope is also President of the Friends of the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath.