Former Ipswich schoolboy David Gauke told a fringe event at Conservative Party conference he would like to be chancellor.

The work and pensions secretary, who attended Northgate High School, revealed his ambition during a fringe event hosted by HuffPost UK.

He said: “Maybe one day actually to be honest, maybe one day I would like to do that.

“I work very closely with Philip [Hammond], I think he is an excellent chancellor and just what we want.

“Years down the line when the family is a bit older then maybe one day I would like to do that.”

Asked whether he could be PM he answered: “I am really not sure I would ever want to do it.

“There are huge qualities and attributes that you need to be prime minister.

“I think I am probably missing several of them.

He added: “But one of them is a really strong desire to do the job.”