 Benn inherited a peerage on his father 's death ( as 2nd Viscount Stansgate ) , which prevented his continuing as an MP . He fought to remain in the House of Commons , and then campaigned for the ability to renounce the title , a campaign which succeeded with the Peerage Act 1963 . In the Labour Government of 1964 – 70 he served first as Postmaster General , where he oversaw the opening of the Post Office Tower , and later as a " technocratic " Minister of Technology . 
