Former North Durham MP Kevan Jones has revealed the title he will use when he takes his seat in the House of Lords later in the year.

The long-serving politician announced he was standing down when the General Election was announced two months ago by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The 60-year-old, first elected in 2001, said he would not be able to campaign while he is undergoing treatment for an existing medical condition.

But as the exit poll was released last Thursday, when he was replaced by Luke Akehurst, Mr Jones was named as a new lord on the 2024 Dissolution Honours List.

Kevan Jones Kevan Jones (Image: Sarah Caldecott) Speaking exclusively to the Northern Echo, he revealed he will be known as Lord Beamish.

Beamish, a village near Stanley, is now world-famous as it shares its name with the neighbouring open-air museum that preserves the lives lived by coalmining communities during the early 20th century.

Mr Jones said he chose Beamish as his title because it is in his former constituency but also because it was used by one of his political heroes.

Jack Lawson, who served from 1919 to 1948, was a former miner who became a trade unionist and Labour Party politician serving under Ramsay McDonald and Clement Atlee.

Ennobled in 1950 he was known as Lord Lawson of Beamish and has a school in Birtley, near Chester-le-Street, named after him.

Jack Lawson Jack Lawson (Image: Contributor) Mr Jones said: “He was one of my great political heroes but is also nice to have something from the constituency as well.”

Mr Jones said he will take his seat in the Lords later this year once he has completed his treatment.

He said: “It will be a bit weird and a bit strange but  I am pleased I can keep involved and help the Labour Party once I am back on my feet.

“I have had some very nice emails and letters about it.

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“The other thing is it will allow us to continue with things like the Post Office campaign. There is some unfinished business to do on that.

“This is more scrutiny work and the one thing I will miss is individual casework and helping constituents.

“Something I will continue to do is continue the fight for the North East to get the resources it needs.”