Were it not for the crisis in Ukraine and all the fuss about lockdown parties, the political debate would be dominated by two matters: how best to emerge from the pandemic and how to make the most of Brexit.

The former remains problematic, with the massive levels of debt built up during the two years since Covid struck leading the Government to prioritise fiscal prudence ahead of a dash for growth. The tax rises that took effect this month come at a time when household incomes are stretched by inflation and high energy costs. A contraction in consumer spending looks inevitable, with uncertain knock-on effects.

The latter depends on the UK making the most of its newfound freedoms from EU membership to boost its global trade. One argument during the Brexit saga has been that Europe is a declining market while those in the rest of the world, and especially Asia, are growing rapidly.

Apart from China there is no more important country in the region than India, the world’s largest democracy and one with long-standing ties to the UK, for good or ill. This week Boris Johnson will head to Delhi for a visit postponed by a year because of Covid. Securing a trade agreement with India is seen by Brexit supporters as emblematic of the advantages that leaving the EU could bring.

Last year the two countries adopted a 10-year “roadmap” to expand ties in the key areas of trade and economy, defence and security, climate change and people-to-people connections. Negotiations for a trade agreement began in January. But the geopolitical landscape has changed markedly in the past year. In particular, India’s studied neutrality on the issue of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine indicates that it by no means shares the same foreign policy imperatives as the UK or the West.

Narendra Modi, the prime minister, sees scope for India to play the honest broker in the conflict, but given the international condemnation of Moscow’s action this is a difficult position to maintain. Mr Johnson will no doubt urge India to be more forceful in its approach to Russia, and Mr Modi may be forced to choose sides if the war worsens and sanctions bite deeper.

Close relations with India are important for “global Britain”. But Mr Johnson should not be under any illusions that, as with Germany in Europe, economic, military and diplomatic self-interest will not be Mr Modi’s guiding principle.