Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister of the UK, has found herself under scrutiny after being accused of trying to tack on a private safari to her official government visit to Ethiopia in February.
The accusation has raised eyebrows, particularly as questions swirl around the need for her to be in East Africa while also overseeing housing reforms back home.
Cost of the Trip and Purpose of the Visit
The trip, which included flights for Rayner and her entourage costing around £20,000, saw her meet with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, as well as visiting schools and a health centre.
The purpose of the visit, according to Rayner, was to showcase the UK’s commitment to the region and to promote mutual economic growth.
However, it was during this official trip that Rayner allegedly asked if she could add a personal safari to the schedule to experience Ethiopia’s famed wildlife.
Request Denied by Civil Servants
According to reports, Rayner’s request to include a safari in her itinerary was swiftly denied by civil servants.
A source who spoke to The Times revealed that Rayner was informed that “that’s not how these things worked.”
Her office has not outright denied the request, instead stating that the itinerary was already agreed upon in advance, and the safari was not part of it.
Political Criticism and Focus on Housing Issues
This incident has drawn criticism, with Shadow Housing Secretary Kevin Hollinrake questioning Rayner’s priorities.
Hollinrake pointed out that Rayner already had a heavy workload, with challenging housing targets and efforts to address issues in the housing sector.
He suggested that she should be more focused on her role in tackling these domestic issues rather than seeking personal perks abroad.
Freebies Scandal Stirs Further Controversy
The controversy surrounding Rayner’s trip comes amid another ongoing debate over government officials accepting freebies.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, for example, recently defended her acceptance of free tickets to a Sabrina Carpenter concert, explaining that it was for security reasons.
The Chancellor and a family member attended the concert with tickets that could not be purchased, which further stoked concerns over ministers receiving free perks.
Rising Scrutiny Over Gifts and Perks in Government
This issue of government freebies has become a topic of increasing scrutiny, particularly with changes to the Ministerial Code on when gifts and hospitality are deemed acceptable.
Last year, Sir Keir Starmer faced criticism for receiving several lavish gifts from Labour donor Lord Alli, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak repaid over £6,000 worth of gifts after entering office.
These developments have added fuel to the ongoing conversation about the ethical implications of accepting gifts and free tickets.
Ministerial Responses to the Controversy
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, who was asked about the Chancellor’s concert tickets during her media rounds, expressed little enthusiasm about the situation.
Alexander stated that she personally hadn’t accepted any free tickets since becoming a Member of Parliament and that she had been “very busy.”
When pressed about whether she would ever accept such perks, Alexander reaffirmed that she had never done so.
As the debate continues over political freebies and ministers’ priorities, both Rayner’s alleged safari request and the ongoing concerns about gift acceptance reflect growing public disillusionment with the conduct of government officials.