FORMER Eastleigh MP David Chidgey looks set to continue in politics as a Liberal Democrat peer sitting in the House of Lords.

His name is said to figure in the dissolution honours list, which will create 16 new Labour peers, five Conservatives and five Liberal Democrats.

The list - honouring people who served in the last parliament - is not due to be published until after Thursday's general election.

And the long-serving former Eastleigh MP said protocol forbade him to speak about the matter.

But sources close to the man who has completed more than 30 years in politics say if he is elevated to the Lords he would almost certainly want to take a title related to the Eastleigh constituency.

It is also understood that he might even want to throw open the matter to the general public to make suggestions

Mr Chidgey told the Daily Echo: "I really cannot comment until after the official list has been published."

But he added: "Should I be asked, I would be delighted that the work done in Eastleigh by myself and my team for over a decade had been recognised."

The former MP, who will be 63 in July, announced he would be stepping down at the next general election as long ago as October 2003.

He told the Daily Echo that after 30 years in politics he had decided it was time to make way for younger men and women bringing new talents and fresh ideas to Parliament.

He first captured the Eastleigh seat from the Conservatives with a stunning by-election victory in June 1994 before going on to turn the constituency into a Lib Dem stronghold.