In the first direct elections to the European Parliament in 1979, he was returned as MEP for Devon as a Conservative, with 61.8% of the vote and a majority of 86,022. He was then re-elected in 1984, when his vote share dropped to 54.7% and his majority fell to 56,620. At the 1989 European Parliament election he was again re-elected, and although his vote share dropped further to 46.4%, a split in the opposition vote meant that his majority actually increased to 57,298. He remained an MEP until his resignation in March 1994. He had been due to contest the 1994 European Parliament election, fighting the newly drawn constituency of Devon and East Plymouth, but he resigned three months before the election, citing the collapse of his second marriage, commenting "You can't fight an election with your mind on other things.""Separate Ways", The Times. London (UK): 1 April 1994.Your MEPs: The Lord Lord O'Hagan , European Parliament. In other sections of the press, his resignation was attributed to ill health."An MEP's lot: Tory defends `poor' attendance record", David Connett, The Independent. London (UK): 24 May 1994 Giles Chichester was selected as Conservative candidate in his place, narrowly holding the seat by just 700 votes.
