Former prime minister Rishi Sunak has taken up paid advisory roles at tech superpower Microsoft and AI start-up Anthropic.
Sunak, who is still an MP for Richmond and Northallerton, described the companies as among the "world's leading tech firms" and said he would be donating his earnings from them to a charity he founded.
The former Conservative PM has been warned by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) - an independent watchdog overseeing activities of former government figures - that he cannot lobby ministers on behalf of the companies
Tech regulation was a key priority for Sunak in his time as prime minister, in which he set up an AI safety summit.
His new role with Microsoft was described by Acoba as involving providing "high-level strategic perspectives" on geopolitical trends, the BBC reports.
Sunak's Anthropic role was likened to an "internal think tank".
Acoba noted that the appointments could provide the firms with "unfair access and influence" within government, but reiterated the existing rules would prevent Sunak from advising on bidding for UK contracts or lobbying the government.
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Companies reporting today
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