What about your housebuilding drive, Angela? Rayner is accused of ignoring her domestic duties in favour of ‘swanning around the world’ as Deputy PM jets off for a tour of Africa_Nhy
Angela Rayner was today accused of ignoring her domestic duties in favour of ‘swanning around the world’ after she jetted off for a tour of Africa.
The Deputy Prime Minister said she was ‘delighted’ to be travelling to Ethiopia to meet with the African country’s leaders, while she is also due to visit Ghana later this week.
Downing Street insisted Ms Rayner’s trip would ‘demonstrate the UK’s commitment to the region’ and was part of Labour’s bid to kickstart sluggish economic growth.
But critics questioned how she had time to make the visit when she has a bulging in-tray in her other role as Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary.
Ms Rayner is fronting Labour’s mission to build 1.5million new homes, overseeing a major shake-up of councils, and spearheading a package of workers’ rights reforms.
Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake, the shadow housing secretary, told MailOnline: ‘You’d think she’d have enough on her plate.’
Ms Rayner was pictured holding British and Ethiopian flags as she was greeted on her arrival in Africa, before she held a meeting with Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed Ali.
The Deputy PM also visited the Ethiopian Articifial Intelligence Institute in the country’s capital Addis Ababa.
Angela Rayner was pictured holding British and Ethiopian flags as she was greeted on her arrival in Africa
The Labour deputy leader helf talks with Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed Ali
The Deputy PM said she was ‘delighted’ to be travelling to Ethiopia to meet with the African country’s leaders
‘I’m delighted to be in Ethiopia this week to meet with leaders and businesses,’ Ms Rayner said.
‘As Deputy PM, I’m here to demonstrate the UK’s commitment to the region and promote ambitions for partnerships and mutual economic growth.’
She added: ‘Later this week, I’ll visit Ghana, where I will meet with leaders and Ghanaian British entrepreneurs to discuss growth opportunities.’
Downing Street defended Ms Rayner’s foreign trip, saying her role as Deputy PM includes ‘acting in support of the Government’s international agenda’.
‘She’s in Ethiopia to demonstrate the UK’s commitment to the region and promote ambitions for partnerships,’ PM Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said.
‘She’ll seek to boost the UK-Ethiopia partnership in areas including infrastructure, agriculture, telecommunications and helping to support economic growth.
‘UK companies have played an important role in deepening financial markets in Ethiopia, drawing on London’s strength as a global financial hub.
‘And we’ll be working with Ethiopia to accelerate its roll-out of AI, which will mean more opportunities for UK tech companies.’
Ms Rayner also visited the Ethiopian Articifial Intelligence Institute in the country’s capital Addis Ababa
But Mr Hollinrake 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.
‘Clearly she has more important things to do swanning around the world.’
Sir Keir has been criticised himself for making numerous trips abroad since becoming PM in July last year.
