Angela Rayner requested to go on a private safari tour of Ethiopia when visiting the east African country last year, it has been revealed. The deputy Prime Minister visited Ethiopia last month to meet leaders and oversee the signing of an investment deal.

However government sources have now claimed that Ms Rayner asked officials whether she could use the taxpayer-funded trip to go on a private safari tour. Ms Rayner was informed by her officials that such an excursion for personal enjoyment is “not how these things worked”. The deputy PM and Local Government Secretary’s team have not denied the allegations, telling the Times: “The deputy prime minister carried out diplomatic business and humanitarian engagements to demonstrate the UK’s commitment to the region and promote ambitions for partnerships and mutual economic growth.”

The trip to Ethiopia has already come under fire, after it was revealed the cost came to more than £20,000.

Some officials, including Ms Rayner, flew there in business class despite blasting the Tories for wasting taxpayer’s cash on trips prior to winning the election.

Kevin Hollinrake, Ms Rayner’s Tory opposite in the local government brief, said: “You’d think she’d have enough on her plate dealing with the realities of setting a totally unrealistic target of building 1.5 million homes, abolishing every district and county council in England and trying to save the high street from the disastrous impact of massive tax hikes and new employment red tape.”

He added: “Clearly she has more important things to do swanning around the world.”

At the time, Keir Starmer’s spokesman defended the trip as part of Ms Rayner’s brief supporting the government’s international agenda.

He said: “You’ll have seen her role as Deputy Prime Minister includes acting in support of the Government’s international agenda.”

“She’s in Ethiopia to develop the UK’s ambitions for the region. UK companies have played an important role in strengthening financial markets in Ethiopia. We’ll be working with Ethiopia in developing AI.

“There’s plenty of areas in the UK-Ethiopia partnership which support UK businesses.”

Asked again why Ms Rayner had travelled to Ethiopia, he said: “It’s obviously a core part of ministerial jobs, and it’s set out as part of the Deputy Prime Minister’s portfolio online that she’ll be supporting the Government’s international agenda.”