TITLE: Rishi Sunak Joins Microsoft and Anthropic as Senior Advisor
Former UK Prime Minister Takes Advisory Roles with Tech Giants
Rishi Sunak, who served as Britain’s prime minister from 2022 to 2024, has accepted senior advisory positions with Microsoft and artificial intelligence company Anthropic. The appointments were disclosed through official letters from Parliament’s Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), which raised significant concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Regulatory Concerns Over Privileged Information
The committee expressed particular worry that Sunak’s insider knowledge of government operations could provide Microsoft with unfair advantage in its dealings with UK authorities. This concern is especially relevant given Microsoft’s existing contracts with multiple British government departments, including a substantial £2.5 billion investment agreement Sunak himself announced in 2023 for data centers and training initiatives.
AI Regulation Context Adds Complexity
Acoba highlighted the timing of these appointments as particularly sensitive, noting the ongoing global debate about artificial intelligence regulation. The committee stated there’s “reasonable concern that your appointment could be seen to offer unfair access and influence within the UK government” during this critical period of AI policy development.
Sunak’s Commitment to Avoid Conflicts
In response to these concerns, the former prime minister has committed to several safeguards. He pledged to refrain from advising on UK policy matters, focus instead on high-level macroeconomic and geopolitical trends, and avoid any lobbying activities. Additionally, Sunak will donate his entire salary from these roles to the Richmond Project, a charitable organization he established with his wife earlier this year.
Broader Pattern of Political-Tech Movement
This move continues a growing trend of British politicians transitioning to technology sector roles. Sunak’s own senior political adviser, Liam Booth-Smith, also works for Anthropic, while former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg recently concluded his tenure as Meta’s president of global affairs. Similar patterns exist in the United States, where multiple former government officials have joined major tech companies’ leadership teams.
As reported by IMD Monitor, these developments highlight ongoing questions about the relationship between former government officials and technology corporations seeking to influence policy direction.
Sunak’s Expanding Private Sector Portfolio
These new technology advisory roles complement Sunak’s existing private sector engagements, which include serving as senior advisor to investment bank Goldman Sachs and providing speechwriting services for financial firms including Bain Capital and Makena Capital. The accumulation of these positions demonstrates the former prime minister’s continued influence across both technology and financial sectors.
