In the aftermath of a devastating election loss, former prime minister Rishi Sunak faces the same question that has dogged him since before he entered Number 10: what will he do next? The speculation is not new. It surfaced when it was revealed that he once held a US green card, which he only surrendered while chancellor, ahead of his first official trip to America as a serving UK government minister. At the time, he was forced to deny that he had kept the card because his long-term goal was to return to the United States.
Two years later, the story refuses to die. Even as recently as a few months ago, Sunak again insisted he had no intention of leaving the UK, calling it 'home'. Yet in Whitehall, rumours are swirling that the couple plan to relocate to California, where they own a luxury apartment in Santa Monica, estimated to be worth $6 million and said to offer stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. For a man who studied at Stanford University, met his wife there, and worked for a hedge fund in the state, it would be a return to familiar ground.
The Sunaks have already made significant investments in California: they donated $3 million to a local college to build a high-tech computer lab, and there is speculation they want their two daughters to attend a private school in the area. A move to California would align with Sunak's background in finance and his keen interest in technology and artificial intelligence, areas where he could easily pivot to lucrative private sector roles. But if he remains in politics, he has said he will stay on as an MP for the full five-year term, noting that he held his seat despite a bad night for many of his colleagues.
History, however, suggests that many former prime ministers find it difficult to remain in parliament after the top job. David Cameron stood down as an MP just two months after losing the Brexit referendum, writing memoirs and later returning briefly as foreign secretary. Boris Johnson left parliament before his term was up, claiming a witch-hunt over Partygate. Margaret Thatcher stayed for two years after being ousted but was a thorn in John Major's side. Theresa May and Liz Truss have been persistent critics of Sunak's policies. The one model Sunak might emulate is Tony Blair, who has amassed a fortune through business and political consulting. As Blair himself joked last month, without work he would 'sit around and drink all day'. For a man raised in ambition, that is unlikely to be Sunak's path.
Source: Yahoo News News