THE sky was always the limit for a leading cabinet member who dreamed of becoming an astronaut.

Tatton MP George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, has revealed his childhood ambition to author Dominic Shelmerdine who is compiling a second edition of his book 'My Original Ambition: Letters from Persons of Consequence'.

In a letter to Dominic Mr Osborne writes: "My original ambition was to be an astronaut.

"My room as a child was decorated with pictures of the stars, rockets and Halley's Comet.

"However, I made the right decision to pursue a career in politics as there have been many more Chancellors of the Exchequer than British astronauts!"

Dominic said: "I have letters for the second edition from David Cameron, Ed Miliband, Nick Clegg, Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson, and Alex Salmond to name but a few.

"The first edition sold out.

"It contains only the correspondence from these people recalling their earliest ambitions and it is thoroughly interesting. "