Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, has found herself in the middle of controversy after being accused of attempting to add a personal safari trip to her official government visit to Ethiopia.
According to reports, Rayner asked if she could fit in a visit to Ethiopia’s wildlife while on a diplomatic mission to the East African country in February.
Questions Raised About the Need for the Trip
Questions had already been raised about the necessity of Rayner’s visit to Ethiopia, especially given her significant responsibilities at home as the Secretary of State for Housing.
Her visit came amid the government’s push to “get Britain building” and the challenging task of meeting housing targets in the UK.
The trip, which included her entourage, is said to have cost an estimated £20,000 in flights, according to the Guido Fawkes website.
During her visit, Rayner met with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, and visited schools and health centers to showcase the UK’s commitment to the region.
Rayner described her trip as an effort to promote mutual economic growth and partnerships with Ethiopia.
However, her request to include a safari on the itinerary raised eyebrows among government officials.
Civil Servants Reject the Safari Request
Reports say that Rayner’s request to visit Ethiopia’s wildlife, home to rare species like lions, crocodiles, baboons, and hippos, was promptly rejected by civil servants.
A source told The Times that officials explained the situation to her, saying, “That’s not how these things worked.”
Rayner’s office did not outright deny the request, but instead confirmed that the official itinerary, which was agreed upon in advance, did not include a safari.
A spokesperson for Rayner emphasized that her trip was focused on conducting diplomatic and humanitarian engagements to strengthen the UK’s relationships with Ethiopia.
Criticism from Political Opponents
Rayner’s critics, including shadow housing secretary Kevin Hollinrake, quickly seized on the controversy.
Hollinrake remarked that Rayner already had enough on her plate with her housing policies, including the ambitious goal of building 1.5 million homes and overhauling local councils in England.
He also pointed to the challenges of saving the high street amid soaring taxes and new employment regulations.
The timing of the allegations is particularly sensitive, as the government faces ongoing scrutiny over ministers accepting freebies and the new guidelines surrounding gifts and hospitality.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves Defends Her Free Concert Tickets
The controversy surrounding Rayner’s alleged safari request comes amid another row involving government freebies.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently defended her decision to accept free tickets to a Sabrina Carpenter concert, claiming the tickets were provided for security reasons.
Reeves said she attended the concert with a family member, with tickets that were not available for public purchase.
While she pledged to declare the value of the tickets, her explanation has drawn questions about ministers accepting perks while in office.
More Ministers Under Scrutiny for Freebies
Reeves’ concert tickets follow a wider debate about ministers receiving gifts, including high-value presents received by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer from a prominent donor.
Starmer had to return over £6,000 worth of gifts, including concert tickets and luxury accommodations.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander was also questioned about freebies during a recent broadcast appearance.
While Alexander said she hadn’t accepted any free tickets since being elected, she did not directly comment on whether she would ever consider accepting them in the future.
As these controversies unfold, political figures are increasingly facing questions about the ethics of accepting gifts and perks, and whether such actions align with public expectations of government officials.