He entered local politics in the outer London suburbs: he was a member of Walthamstow Borough Council from 1929 to 1936 and of Erith Borough Council from 1938 to 1955, and served as Mayor of Erith in 1945–46.

He also sat on Kent County Council, where he was deputy leader of the Labour group from 1946 to 1949.

Pannell served as Minister of Public Building and Works in the first Wilson government, 1964–66.

[2] On 21 June 1974 he was created a life peer, taking the title Baron Pannell, of the City of Leeds.

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