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".
This story is from the July 04, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the July 04, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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