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The Labour Party is poised to reveal its new deputy chief this Saturday, with surveys indicating Lucy Powell leading Bridget Phillipson as balloting ended on Thursday.

The Day's Political Agenda

Presented is the political agenda for today, as per the PA news agency:

• 10am: Labour’s new deputy leader is set to be revealed in London. Addresses are anticipated following the announcement from the winner and the prime minister.
• 1pm: Demonstrators from rival factions are likely to descend on separate areas of London after police banned Ukip supporters from assembling in an East London area due to fears of serious disorder.
• Today: Counting starts to determine the next president of Ireland.

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

Election Key Points and Contender Stances

During the election race, Lucy Powell often mentioned mistakes made by the Labour Party on issues such as the winter heating payments. In a final message to supporters, she seemed to question a top-down approach within government, stating that unquestioning compliance was a failure of duty.

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

Keir Starmer has already endured a challenging week, dominated by a dispute over the grooming gangs inquiry and a loss in the Senedd byelection in Caerphilly.

The party's difficulties in the polls have sparked doubts among backbenchers about the leader's position.

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

In contrast, Phillipson, regarded as the prime minister's favored choice, has highlighted cohesion, warning that choosing her rival would result in party disputes and divisions that could return the party back to opposition.

Additional Political Headlines

• Reducing the cash Isa limit may not persuade savers to switch to shares but could push up mortgage costs, MPs have warned the finance minister.
• A wipeout for Labour in next May’s council elections could spell the end of Keir Starmer’s premiership, parliamentarians have said, after the Labour experienced 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 involved in a controversy over the collapse of a legal case against two UK nationals accused of spying for China.

The result of the deputy leader contest is expected to be announced at 10:00 AM British Summer Time.