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Labour is set to announce its fresh deputy leader this Saturday, with polls suggesting Lucy Powell leading the education secretary as voting closed on Thursday.

The Day's Political Agenda

Below is the political timeline for Saturday, as per the PA news agency:

• 10am: The party's deputy chief will be announced in central London. Speeches are expected afterwards from the winner and the prime minister.
• 1pm: Demonstrators from rival factions are expected to gather in different sides of London after police banned Ukip activists from assembling in Whitechapel due to fears of serious disorder.
• Today: Counting begins to reveal the new head of state of Ireland.

Additionally, Epping Forest MP Neil Hudson is conducting the media interviews for the Conservatives.

Election Key Points and Contender Stances

Throughout the campaign, Lucy Powell frequently mentioned errors made by the Labour Party on matters such as the winter fuel allowance. In a final message to backers, she seemed to question a top-down approach within government, stating that unquestioning compliance was a failure of responsibility.

Should Powell wins, the outcome is expected to be seen as a rebuke to the prime minister's leadership from Labour members.

The prime minister has recently endured a difficult period, marked by a dispute over the grooming gangs investigation and a defeat in the Senedd byelection in Caerphilly.

Labour’s struggles in the opinion polls have sparked doubts among backbenchers about Starmer’s leadership.

Lucy Powell has emphasized that she wants to support the PM and administration to succeed but also informed supporters the Labour needs to adapt how it functions to improve the situation.

Meanwhile, Phillipson, regarded as the prime minister's preferred candidate, has stressed unity, warning that voting for her rival would result in party disputes and divisions that could return the Labour back to opposition.

Additional News Highlights

• Cutting the cash Isa limit may not encourage savers to invest in stocks but could increase mortgage costs, MPs have warned the chancellor.
• A heavy defeat for the Labour Party in the upcoming council elections could spell the end of Keir Starmer’s premiership, MPs have said, after the party experienced a crushing defeat in its Welsh heartland.
• The former prime minister was the sole MP sent a witness statement by the security official implicated in a dispute over the dismissal of a case against two British men alleged of espionage for China.

The outcome of the deputy leadership election is expected to be announced at 10am BST.