Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has landed a new role with tech titan Microsoft — though it comes with some serious strings attached.
The former Conservative leader, who stepped down after the July 2024 General Election, has been appointed as a part-time senior adviser to the US-based firm.
The position, however, has raised eyebrows due to strict conditions imposed by the UK’s business appointments watchdog.
“He will provide high-level strategic perspectives on macro-economic and geopolitical trends and how they intersect with innovation, regulation and digital transformation,” Microsoft said.
As part of his advisory duties, Mr Sunak will also be speaking at company events.
But crucially, he has been barred from lobbying the UK Government on Microsoft’s behalf and cannot involve himself in any domestic policy matters related to the company.
Salary Donated, Restrictions Imposed
Sunak will not receive personal income from the role. Instead, his salary will be donated to The Richmond Project, a numeracy skills charity founded by him and his wife, Akshata Murty.
According to a report from the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), Mr Sunak:
- Must not advise Microsoft on any UK Government work or contracts until late next year.
- Has been specifically restricted from lobbying or leveraging insider contacts within Whitehall.
- May only offer strategic advice on areas that do not conflict with his previous government activities.
Sunak’s post-office career trajectory is quickly becoming a tech-world tale to watch. From Downing Street to Silicon Valley boardrooms, he’s making bold moves, but with watchdogs watching closely.
Yorkshire Over California… For Now
After his political exit, speculation swirled that Sunak was eyeing a fresh start in Silicon Valley. However, he appeared to quash those rumours during his final Prime Minister’s Questions session, saying: “If anyone needs me, I will be in Yorkshire.”
He added he’d spend more time in “the greatest place on Earth,” referring to his Richmond and Northallerton constituency.
But it seems his ambitions were global all along. His new advisory role at Microsoft adds to a growing list of high-profile positions he’s taken on since leaving No.10.
Big Tech Portfolio Growing
In addition to Microsoft, Mr Sunak has also joined:
- Anthropic – a San Francisco-based AI company behind the Claude model.
- Goldman Sachs – returning as a senior adviser to the bank he worked at from 2001 to 2004.
These strategic roles suggest Sunak is quickly carving out a niche in the intersection of finance, tech, and global policy, albeit under close scrutiny.
Microsoft’s Past Tensions with the UK
Sunak’s new position also recalls past tensions between Microsoft and UK regulators.
In 2023, Microsoft president Brad Smith publicly criticised the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) after it blocked the firm’s attempted acquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard.
Mr Smith said the decision had damaged “confidence” in the UK.
At the time, a Downing Street spokesman fired back: “Those sorts of claims are not borne out by the facts.”
Eventually, Microsoft restructured the deal and secured CMA clearance, but the incident highlighted the sensitive balance between government policy and corporate power, one that Sunak must now carefully navigate.
With multiple advisory roles in global tech and finance, Rishi Sunak’s post-political chapter is far from quiet. But in a world where access and influence are currency, watchdogs are making sure he plays by the rules.
Stay tuned, this career pivot could be just the beginning.
