RISHI Sunak has acknowledged his hometown football team's relegation after being ribbed by a colleague during Prime Minister's Questions.

Southampton FC's recent relegation from the Premier League was the talk of the city - but the news has evidently spread as far as Westminster as fellow Conservative MP Tom Hunt, who represents Ipswich, brought up the sore subject with his boss before a question about protesters today.

Mr Hunt jokingly extended an invite for the Prime Minister to visit his constituency's local team for their next match in the Championship together.

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He said: "I really look forward to welcoming the Prime Minister to Portman Road [Stadium] for Ipswich Town versus Southampton next season."

As Home Secretary Suella Braverman - herself the MP for Fareham - looked on amused, Mr Sunak replied with a smirk: "Mr Speaker, on my honorable friend's first observation, all I can say is 'ouch' but thank you, and I look forward to the game."

Mr Sunak grew up in Southampton and his mother ran a pharmacy which was unsurprisingly called Sunak Pharmacy. It has now been rebranded as Bassett Pharmacy in Burgess Road.

Daily Echo: Rishi Sunak during the Southampton FC versus Fulham matchRishi Sunak during the Southampton FC versus Fulham match (Image: Stuart Martin)

Despite moving away from Southampton - most recently into 10 Downing Street - his love of Saints remains undimmed, evidenced by his surprise appearance at the team's crucial match against Fulham on May 13.

Whisked into Saint Mary's Stadium by a convoy of black Range Rovers and security guards, the highest politician in the land was seen sharing the highs and lows with his fellow fans.

Unfortunately he was not a lucky charm for the team, who lost 0-2 and sealed their fate after 11 years in the top flight of English football.

Daily Echo: Rishi Sunak at Weston Lane SurgeryRishi Sunak at Weston Lane Surgery (Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

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It was Mr Sunak's second visit to his hometown in a week.

On May 9, during a visit to Weston Lane Surgery, he announced an expansion of services to be offered at pharmacies, including blood pressure checks, to take pressure off GP surgeries.

The Prime Minister dodged questions from our reporter when he left by a side door and only spoke to national journalists.

He also paid a visit to his family's former pharmacy.