What is a private office?

In December 2024 The Times reported that former prime minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty would be setting up a private office aimed at promoting education initiatives.

This article touches on common structures used by wealthy individuals or families for philanthropic aims but the main focus is on how some former prime ministers have set up their private offices after leaving office.

There is no special structure given by statute to a private office of a former prime minister. The individual concerned will be advised as to a suitable structure based on factors including privacy tax control managing liability etc. The structures available to them are the same as any individual or family can use including companies and partnerships of varying forms and if charity and philanthropy are part of it the varying forms of charitable organisations...