Born in 1941, Bill Newton Dunn is the son of professional soldier. Following an MA in natural science, he worked in industry and earned an MBA before entering politics.

Elected as Conservative MEP for Lincolnshire to the first European Parliament in 1979, he contested every election until Brexit in 2020, winning seven times out of nine, making him the longest-serving MEP in Europe. In 2000, he crossed the floor to the Liberal Democrats. From 2009, he represented the six counties in the East Midlands.

He has been married to Anna for fifty years and they have two children and four grandchildren.