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Labour is set to announce its fresh deputy leader today, with surveys indicating Lucy Powell leading the education secretary as voting ended on the previous Thursday.

The Day's Schedule of Events

Presented is the politics timeline for Saturday, as per the news schedule:

• 10:00 AM: Labour’s new deputy leader will be announced in London. Speeches are expected afterwards from the victor and the prime minister.
• 1pm: Protesters from opposing groups are expected to descend on different sides of the capital after authorities banned Ukip supporters 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 on the morning media rounds for the Tory party.

Campaign Key Points and Contender Stances

Throughout the campaign, Powell frequently mentioned mistakes made by the party on issues such as the winter heating payments. In a final message to backers, she seemed to question a top-down culture within government, arguing that unquestioning compliance was a dereliction of duty.

If Powell does emerge victorious, the result is expected to be seen as a rebuke to Keir Starmer's leadership from Labour members.

Keir Starmer has already endured a difficult week, marked by a row over the grooming gangs investigation and a defeat in the Welsh assembly by-election in Caerphilly.

Labour’s struggles in the opinion polls have led to doubts among MPs about the leader's position.

Powell has stressed that she wants to help Keir and our government to succeed but also told followers the Labour must change how it functions to turn things around.

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

Other Political Headlines

• Cutting the cash Isa limit may not encourage investors to invest in stocks but could increase home loan rates, lawmakers have cautioned the chancellor.
• A wipeout for the Labour Party in next May’s local elections could signal the termination of Starmer's leadership, MPs have said, after the party suffered a significant loss in Wales.
• 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 case against two UK nationals alleged of spying for China.

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