He was first elected by Hampshire North-East in the 1997 general election, and was re-elected in 2001 (see UK general election, 2001). He had previously been the MP for Wanstead and Woodford in East London.
Arbuthnot served as a Whip and in various ministerial posts under the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major. Under the opposition leadership of William Hague he served as opposition Chief Whip but is now a backbencher.