Mrs Murty’s bare-footed kickabout with Indian school children on Friday harked back to the warm and enthusiastic public appearances by Samantha Cameron, whose husband David described her as the Conservatives’ “secret weapon” in 2010.

Both women were highly successful in their own right before their husbands entered Downing Street: Mrs Murty launched her own fashion label aimed at bringing Indian designers to a global market, while Mrs Cameron is a former creative director of Smythson.

Asked if Mrs Murty was his secret weapon in Downing Street, Mr Sunak said: “Look, she’s my wife. I love her very much, and it’s lovely to have her on a trip, because candidly we don’t get to spend much time with each other.

“The most time I get to spend with her these days is when she gets to sit on a plane with me. We get to catch up, or, as with last night, have a very rare dinner together.

“It’s obviously nice being here with her. It is where she is from, we have many special memories of being here together.”