Rishi Sunak has denied he is eyeing his next
Job heading up an investment fund to develop
Artificial intelligence amid ongoing speculation that he is preparing for life after the
election . Reports over the weekend claimed the Prime Minister was involved in plans to set up a venture capital fund in AI, potentially in the US, once he has left Parliament. It has prompted anger from Tories already concerned about the party’s prospects under the Prime Minister’s leadership that he is looking to his next ventures before the election has even been lost. The Sunday Times reported that aides within No 10 are openly talking about “the AI fund”, with City financiers prepared to find Mr Sunak the seed capital he would need to establish such an investment vehicle. But a Downing Street source insisted the claims were “absolute nonsense” and ruled out any such investment fund being considered by Mr Sunak. “It’s not clear who is saying this, but the first the Prime Minister heard about it was reading the Sunday Times story. It’s for the birds.” The briefing has infuriated No 10, with insiders pointing out that it would make little sense for the Prime Minister to return to something very similar to his job before politics, having already worked in the City running investment funds. But despite the denials, Tories unhappy with his stewardship of the party have been sharing the Sunday Times article believing it is proof that the Prime Minister is less concerned about the Conservatives’ prospects at the next election. One Tory source told i : “[The Times article] has not gone unnoticed. There’s a feeling that Rishi Sunak and the likes of David Cameron are going to be just fine. They will move on with their reputations among the global elite intact, while other MPs will be out of a job and effectively on the breadline.” The insider also reiterated warnings that Mr Sunak could face a fresh threat from factions within the party should the local
elections go badly for the Conservatives. “The local election results were always going to be about what the results will mean for the size of a majority in the general election,” the source said. “No one will be
BREAKING down in tears if we lose the two mayoral elections, it’s all about what the results mean for the applied majority at the general. “Colleagues will be taking notice of that and that’s why this May Day from hell is very much on the cards.” It comes as future leadership speculation continues to swirl with Liz Truss seen to be pushing the prospects of Priti Patel as a future contender to challenge the likes of Suella Braverman. As i reported last week, moderate Tories are looking to Kemi Badenoch as a potential leader who would have the best chance of uniting the party should they be forced from power after the next election.