Cllr Pandor was born and bred in Yorkshire. His parents moved to Yorkshire from India (Gujarat) in the early 60s.

Cllr Pandor is the Leader of Kirklees Council, Deputy Chair of the Local Government Association and has been a councillor since 2002. He is also a member of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership Board and chairs the Business, Economy and Innovation Committee. He is also a member of the Yorkshire Leaders Board.

As well as being a member of the Co-op Council Innovation Network Executive Committee. Cllr Pandor is also a member of Council of Europe and is involved with the work of the Monitoring Committee.