The prime minister, who would be the first sitting leader of the country to lose his seat, told confidants before a Conservative rally on Tuesday that he thinks the vote in Richmond and Northallerton tomorrow is too close to call.
In 2019, he won the seat with a majority of more than 27,000 and 63% of the vote.
One source said: "He is genuinely fearful of a defeat in Richmond. The risk that it could be tight has hit him hard. He's rattled, he can't quite believe it's coming so close." Another source added: "He's taken so much friendly fire from his own side I'm amazed he's had the strength to keep going."
A Conservative source denied the prime minister feared losing in his constituency. "The PM is confident he will hold his seat," they said.
Sunak is weighing a return to the financial services industry, whether or not he stays on as an MP, the Guardian understands. A former colleague has offered him office space in Mayfair, west London, a hotspot for hedge funds. He has also discussed spending more time in California, where he has a home, although he has no immediate plans to relocate there full time, sources said.
However, a Tory source said Sunak had "no interest" in going back into financial services and planned to stay in Yorkshire "come what may".
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