[3] In 2003 he resigned from Parliament over budget cuts to his constituency,[4] precipitating a by-election in which he stood as an independent and was returned unopposed.
The Cook Islands party won the 2010 election and Bishop was appointed to Cabinet as Minister of Education, Tourism, and Marine Resources.
[10] In August 2013 Bishop was stood down from Cabinet following allegations of corruption and fraud in his handling of the marine resources portfolio.
[16] The coalition was dissolved in December after a court ruled that Bishop should stand trial,[17] but in March 2016 he was elected leader of the opposition.
[18] On 21 July 2016 Bishop was found guilty of corruption over his granting of fisheries licences while a Minister.