Commenting on the news that Sir Richard Branson is entering the space tourism market, Michael Fabricant says: "While I am pleased that it is a UK company entering the space tourism market, I hope that this does not distract Virgin and Sir Richard from his more down to earth transport responsibilities. In particular, Virgin Trains must concentrate on improving its service on the West Coast mainline on which many scores of my constituents commute daily to London. Cancellations due to problems with old rolling stock and teething troubles with the new Pendolinos are making commuters’ lives hell.

"I hope that Virgin spacecraft will not suffer similar problems. Being stuck between Rugby and Nuneaton in a broken down train is bad enough: being lost in space is probably marginally worse" Michael adds.

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has announced his company has signed an agreement worth £14m to secure the first commercial flights into space. The deal with the US firm which owns the technology, could be worth millions over the next 15 years depending on the number of space vehicles built. Sir Richard said: "We hope to create thousands of astronauts over the next few years and bring alive their dream of seeing the majestic beauty of our planet from above, the stars in all their glory and amazing sensation of weightlessness."