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The Labour Party is poised to announce its fresh deputy leader today, with surveys pointing to Lucy Powell in front of Bridget Phillipson as balloting ended on the previous Thursday.

The Day's Schedule of Events

Below is the politics agenda for Saturday, as per the news schedule:

• 10am: The party's deputy chief will be announced in London. Speeches are expected afterwards from the winner and the prime minister.
• 1pm: Protesters from rival factions are likely to descend on separate areas of London after police prohibited Ukip activists from assembling in Whitechapel due to fears of public unrest.
• Today: Vote counting starts to reveal the new head of state of the Irish Republic.

Meanwhile, Epping Forest MP Neil Hudson is conducting the morning media rounds for the Tory party.

Campaign Highlights and Contender Stances

Throughout the campaign, Lucy Powell often referred to errors made by the party on matters such as the winter fuel allowance. In a final message to supporters, she appeared to criticise a command and control culture within the administration, arguing that unquestioning compliance was a failure of responsibility.

Should Powell does emerge victorious, the result is expected to be seen as a rebuke to the prime minister's leadership from party members.

The prime minister has recently faced a difficult week, dominated by a dispute over the grooming gangs investigation and a loss in the Welsh assembly by-election in the Caerphilly seat.

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

Powell has stressed that she aims to help Keir and our government to prosper but also told supporters the party must change how it operates to improve the situation.

Meanwhile, Bridget Phillipson, seen as Number 10's preferred candidate, has highlighted unity, cautioning that choosing her rival would result in internal debate and divisions that could lead the party back to opposition.

Additional News Highlights

• Cutting the annual cash Isa allowance may not persuade savers to invest in stocks but could push up home loan rates, MPs have cautioned the finance minister.
• A wipeout for Labour in next May’s local elections could spell the end of Starmer's leadership, parliamentarians have said, after the Labour suffered a significant loss in its Welsh heartland.
• The former prime minister was the only politician provided a witness statement by the deputy national security adviser implicated in a controversy over the collapse of a legal case against two British men alleged of spying for China.

The outcome of the deputy leadership election is expected to be declared at 10:00 AM British Summer Time.