Peerage will see John Fuller quit role as South Norfolk Council leader

Norfolk’s longest-serving council leader will stand down after receiving a life peerage from the Prime Minister.

John Fuller, Conservative leader of South Norfolk Council, has announced he will not be putting himself forward for re-election to the authority’s top position in May.

However, he will remain a councillor for Brooke, the division he has represented on the district council since 2003.

Mr Fuller, who has led South Norfolk Council since 2007, said: “I’ve devoted 20 years of my life to public service here, but the leader is an important role and needs someone who has the time to focus and dedicate themselves to it.

“It has been the honour of my life to serve locally, but I will be standing down from my leadership role. I will pass the baton on and wish whoever takes it the greatest success.”

The news follows the announcement in February that Mr Fuller was to become one of 13 new peers.

He was one of eight Tory nominations for life peerages put forward by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

He will now become Lord Fuller following the announcement by Buckingham Palace.

The father-of-two now sit in the House of Lords, where government bills are scrutinised through reviews and amendments before they become law.

Mr Fuller said: “I have dedicated the last 21 years to improving life in south Norfolk and the wider county and I am really honoured to have received this recognition.

“I look forward to continuing to champion the needs of our county and ensuring our voice is heard in London, while helping to shape and improve the laws that affect us all.”

Great Yarmouth-born and Gorleston-raised Mr Fuller was made an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2019 for public and political service.

He is a former chairman of the District Councils’ Network, which represents more than 160 local authorities, and vice-chairman of the economy and resources board at the Local Government Association.

He serves as chairman of Great Yarmouth-based fertiliser business Brineflow Limited, having previously been director of J&H Bunn from 1998 until 2011.

The unelected House of Lords has around 800 members. A life peerage cannot be inherited.