Dutch leader deputises for Cameron as he hosts Modi

Not only are we in a small minority at the European Council, but now we are being represented by a foreign country.” Mr Cameron will instead focus on the visit by Mr Modi, the Indian prime minister, for whom London is the 28th stop on a world tour that has taken on diplomatic “rock star” proportions since his election 18 months ago.

Trade deals of up to £10 billion are expected to be announced as the financial centrepiece of the trip, which will be another signal, following the visit of China’s President Xi Jinping, that British business can find lucrative markets outside the EU.

Mr Modi will demonstrate his crowdpulling power on his first visit to Britain since the UK ended a boycott over allegations that the Hindu nationalist politician failed to stop massacres of Muslims in his home state of Gujarat.

He will pack Wembley Stadium with 60,000 supporters from the British-Indian diaspora after a “warm-up” speech by Mr Cameron tomorrow. He will also have lunch with the Queen, deliver an address to Parliament and spend a night at Chequers, hosted by Mr Cameron.

But protesters from human rights, religious and social groups are expected to stage a series of demonstrations. The families of three Britons killed in Gujarat in 2002 said that the “red carpet” treatment was inappropriate. “We obviously understand why there is engagement but it is being done in a quite shameless manner,” said Yusuf Dawood, whose two brothers were killed.

Mr Cameron last night also announced that Britain would contribute £275 million in aid to Turkey. It is part of €3 billion (£2.1 billion) in incentives that the EU wants to offer Ankara in exchange for it halting the flow of Syrian refugees into Europe. Another £200 million in British aid money will be given to African nations to tackle the crisis “at source”, including job creation schemes in Somalia and services for refugee camps in Ethiopia.