He also sat on Kent County Council, where he was deputy leader of the Labour group from 1946-1949. Pannell served as Minister of Public Building and Works in the first Wilson government, 1964-1966. On 21 June 1974 he was created a life peer, taking the title Baron Pannell, of the City of Leeds.
38th United Kingdom Parliament. 39th United Kingdom Parliament. 40th United Kingdom Parliament.
41st United Kingdom Parliament.
42nd United Kingdom Parliament. 43rd United Kingdom Parliament.
44th United Kingdom Parliament. 45th United Kingdom Parliament]
He entered local politics in the outer London suburbs: he was a member of Walthamstow Borough Council from 1929-1936 and of Erith Borough Council from 1938-1955, and served as Mayor of Erith in 1945-1946.
He was elected Member of Parliament for Leeds West at a 1949 by-election, and served until his retirement at the February 1974 general election.
