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Labour is set to announce its fresh deputy leader this Saturday, with polling data indicating Lucy Powell in front of the education secretary as balloting ended on the previous Thursday.

The Day's Political Agenda

Here is the politics timeline for Saturday, based on the PA news agency:

• 10am: The party's deputy chief will be announced in central London. Addresses are anticipated afterwards from the winner and the PM.
• 1:00 PM: Demonstrators from rival factions are expected to descend on different sides of the capital after authorities banned Ukip supporters from assembling in an East London area due to concerns of serious disorder.
• Today: Vote counting starts to determine the next president of Ireland.

Meanwhile, the Epping Forest MP Conservative MP Neil Hudson is on the media interviews for the Tory party.

Campaign Highlights and Candidate Positions

During the campaign, Lucy Powell often referred to mistakes made by the party on matters such as the winter heating payments. In a final message to backers, she appeared to criticise a top-down culture within the administration, stating that blindly following along was a dereliction of duty.

If Powell wins, the outcome is likely to be seen as a criticism to the prime minister's governance from party members.

The prime minister has already faced a difficult week, dominated by a row over the grooming gangs inquiry and a defeat in the Senedd byelection in Caerphilly.

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

Lucy Powell has emphasized that she wants to help Keir and our government to prosper but also told supporters the Labour needs to adapt how it functions to turn things around.

Meanwhile, Bridget Phillipson, regarded as Number 10's favored choice, has highlighted unity, warning that voting for her rival would result in party disputes and divisions that could return the party back to opposition.

Additional News Highlights

• Cutting the annual cash Isa allowance may not encourage investors to switch to shares but could increase mortgage costs, lawmakers have warned the finance minister.
• A heavy defeat for Labour in the upcoming council elections could spell the end of Starmer's leadership, MPs have stated, after the Labour experienced a significant loss in its Welsh heartland.
• The former prime minister was the sole MP provided a testimonial by the deputy national security adviser implicated in a dispute over the dismissal of a case against two UK nationals accused of spying for China.

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