A Curious Case of Roles Reversed - Rishi Sunak Joins Goldman Sachs as Advisor:

The internet did what it does best when the news broke: memes flew fast. Rishi Sunak photoshopped into a Goldman Sachs hoodie, mock job listings for “Part-Time MP, Full-Time Banker,” and even a mashup of The Wolf of Downing Street. It was classic online satire, but behind the jokes lay a surprising silence. Despite the absurdity of a sitting MP (and former Prime Minister, no less) taking an advisory role at one of the most powerful investment banks in the world, public debate has been oddly muted. For a political class that is usually scrutinised for much less, this development seems to be sliding under the radar.

Revolving Door  in Reverse

Traditionally, the "revolving door" metaphor describes corporate leaders transitioning into government roles , bringing “real-world experience” to policy-making. What makes Sunak’s move so curious is the inversion: a high-ranking public servant diving deeper into the world of global finance, while still in office. It’s not just post-politics, it’s mid-politics.

Sunak, once lauded as the nation’s steward through a pandemic and economic crisis, is now advising Goldman Sachs, an institution often dubbed “Government Sachs” for its uncanny ability to place alumni in powerful regulatory and political positions across the globe.

Serving Two Masters?

Naturally, this raises the question: Can someone serve both Parliament and a profit-driven Wall Street titan without conflicting interests?

Even if Sunak sticks to every letter of parliamentary ethics, the symbolism is rich , and troubling. The man elected to represent constituents is now moonlighting with a firm that represents the interests of multi-billion-dollar clients. The optics are difficult to ignore: an MP being paid (handsomely, one can assume) to advise an institution whose concerns lie far from the cost-of-living crisis or public services.

It's also worth noting that we usually see the private sector injecting talent into government. But this move feels less like talent exchange and more like talent extraction, from public service to private gain.

What’s the Intention?

Sunak’s career arc has always blended finance and politics. Before his time at No. 11 and No. 10 Downing Street, he worked at hedge funds and earned his MBA at Stanford, deep in Silicon Valley's ideological mix of capitalism and innovation.

So, what’s the play here?

1. Reputation Reboot: Having lost his political crown, this role could be about remaining globally relevant, a soft power pivot that positions him well for whatever comes next.
   
   

2. Financial Fluency: Goldman gains access to someone who knows the inner workings of UK and global policy. Sunak, in turn, gets insider visibility into how elite capital is thinking, a feedback loop of power.
   
   

3. Serving the 1%: Critics argue this merely confirms what many suspected that Sunak’s deepest loyalties lie with the global financial elite, not the average British voter.
   
   

The Silence Is the Statement

What's striking isn’t just the move, it's the lack of outrage. Imagine the reaction if a Labour MP had done something remotely similar. Or if a corporate lobbyist had announced a consulting gig in the middle of a general election campaign. Instead, with Sunak, there's a collective shrug, as if we've come to expect this kind of revolving-door fluidity from those at the top.

Perhaps it’s fatigue. Perhaps it’s the normalization of elite crossover between public and private power. Or perhaps, as the memes suggest, we’ve entered a post-irony political era where satire and reality are nearly indistinguishable.

Rishi Sunak’s advisory role at Goldman Sachs is more than just a career move,  it’s a symbol of how the boundaries between public duty and private interest continue to blur. In the world of modern leadership, it’s increasingly hard to tell where Westminster ends and Wall Street begins.

And maybe that's the biggest irony of all.