Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has accepted paid advisory positions with tech giants Microsoft and Anthropic, just over a year after leaving 10 Downing Street.
The move has been approved by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) – the watchdog overseeing post-government employment – which ruled that Sunak must not lobby ministers or officials on behalf of the companies for two years following his time in office.
Sunak, who remains MP for Richmond and Northallerton, will donate all proceeds from the roles to The Richmond Project – a charity he founded with his wife to boost numeracy across the UK.
During his time as Prime Minister, he made technology policy a key focus, launching the UK’s first AI Safety Summit in 2023 and attempting to position Britain as a hub for responsible AI development.
According to correspondence published by Acoba, his part-time role with Microsoft involves providing ‘high-level strategic perspectives’ on global and geopolitical trends.
The watchdog noted that both companies have significant interests in UK policy and investment, following huge recent investment in the country, particularly by Microsoft.
In a statement on LinkedIn, Sunak said: “Delighted to say that I will be working with two of the world’s leading tech firms, Microsoft and Anthropic.
“Microsoft has driven productivity improvements for decades and Anthropic is one of the most exciting AI frontier labs.”
“I have long believed that technology will transform our world and play a key part in determining our future.
“I am excited to help these two companies, as they address the big strategic questions about how to make tech work for our economies, our security and our society.
“We stand on the edge of a technological revolution whose impacts will be as profound as those of the industrial revolution: and felt more quickly.
“In my role as a senior adviser, I want to help these companies ensure that this shift delivers the improvements in all of our lives that it can.”