Angela Rayner has been accused by the Tories of ignoring her brief with her Ethiopia trip.

The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also the Housing, Communities and Local Government, travelled to the African nation to meet leaders and businesses and is also due to visit Ghana this week.

But the Conservatives accused Ms Rayner of "swanning around the world" amid a pledge to build 1.5 million new homes. She is also spearheading Labour's workers' rights bill and recently announced a local government overhaul.

Shadow housing secretary Kevin Hollinrake told The Telegraph: “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 district and county councils 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.”

Downing Street insisted Ms Rayner's trip was part of supporting the Government's "international agenda".

Asked why she had made the visit, the Prime Minister's official spokesman 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, the spokesman added: “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.”

Ms Rayner wrote on X: "I’m delighted to be in Ethiopia this week to meet with leaders and businesses.

"As Deputy Prime Minister, I’m here to demonstrate the UK’ s commitment to the region and promote ambitions for partnerships and mutual economic growth.

"The UK already works closely with the government and business in Ethiopia and I’m here to see how our two countries can work even more closely together. Benefiting the people of both our nations.

"I also want to see how our two countries are working together to improve health and education.

"Later this week, I’ll visit Ghana, where I will meet with leaders and Ghanaian British entrepreneurs to discuss growth opportunities."