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The Labour Party is poised to announce its fresh deputy leader this Saturday, with polls suggesting Lucy Powell ahead of Bridget Phillipson as balloting ended on the previous Thursday.

Today's Schedule of Events

Presented is the politics schedule for Saturday, according to the PA news agency:

• 10:00 AM: The party's deputy chief is set to be revealed in London. Speeches are expected following the announcement from the winner and the PM.
• 1:00 PM: Demonstrators from rival factions are likely to descend on different sides of London after police prohibited Ukip activists from gathering in an East London area due to concerns of serious disorder.
• Today: Counting begins to reveal the new head of state of Ireland.

Meanwhile, the Epping Forest MP Conservative MP Neil Hudson is on the morning media rounds for the Conservatives.

Campaign Highlights and Candidate Positions

During the campaign, Lucy Powell often mentioned mistakes made by the Labour Party on issues such as the winter heating payments. In a closing statement to backers, she seemed to question a command and control approach within government, stating that unquestioning compliance was a dereliction of responsibility.

Should Powell wins, the outcome is likely to be seen as a criticism to Keir Starmer's leadership from party members.

Keir Starmer has already faced a challenging week, dominated by a dispute over the grooming gangs inquiry and a loss in the Welsh assembly by-election in the Caerphilly seat.

The party's difficulties in the opinion polls have sparked doubts among MPs about Starmer’s leadership.

Lucy Powell has stressed that she aims to help Keir and our government to succeed but also informed followers the Labour needs to adapt how it functions to turn things around.

Meanwhile, Bridget Phillipson, regarded as Number 10's favored choice, has stressed unity, warning that choosing her rival would result in party disputes and splits that could return the Labour back to being in opposition.

Other Political Headlines

• Reducing the annual cash Isa allowance may not persuade investors to invest in stocks but could increase mortgage costs, lawmakers have warned the finance minister.
• A wipeout for the Labour Party in next May’s local elections could spell the end of Keir Starmer’s premiership, parliamentarians have said, after the Labour suffered a significant loss in Wales.
• The former prime minister was the sole MP provided a testimonial by the security official involved in a controversy over the collapse of a case against two British men alleged of espionage for China.

The result of the deputy leader contest is expected to be declared at 10am BST.