Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to advise Microsoft and Anthropic

Rishi Sunak, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who held office from 2022 to 2024, has recently taken on significant advisory roles with tech giants Microsoft and Anthropic. Reports from The Guardian have highlighted concerns raised by the Parliamentary Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) regarding the potential for Sunak's insider knowledge to provide Microsoft with an unfair competitive edge. Sunak's history with Microsoft includes a notable £2.5 billion agreement announced in 2023 to enhance data center capabilities and training initiatives in the UK. Acoba expressed apprehensions that Sunak’s new positions could be perceived as granting special access and influence within the UK government, especially amid ongoing discussions on AI regulation. In response to these concerns, Sunak has committed to focusing on broad economic and geopolitical issues, explicitly stating he will avoid involvement in UK policy matters or lobbying activities. Additionally, he plans to donate his advisory salary to the Richmond Project, a charity he launched with his wife earlier this year. This move places Sunak alongside other former UK politicians who have transitioned to roles assisting major Silicon Valley companies. Notably, his senior political adviser, Liam Booth-Smith, is also affiliated with Anthropic. Furthermore, former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg previously held a position as Meta’s president of global affairs until January 2025. This trend of politicians taking roles in technology firms reflects a similar pattern in the United States, where connections between Silicon Valley and governmental positions are commonplace, as evidenced by recent appointments at Meta and Microsoft.