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Labour is poised to declare its new deputy leader today, with polling data suggesting Lucy Powell in front of Bridget Phillipson as voting ended on the previous Thursday.

Today's Schedule of Events

Below is the political agenda for Saturday, based on the news schedule:

• 10:00 AM: Labour’s new deputy leader will be announced in London. Addresses are expected afterwards from the victor and the prime minister.
• 1:00 PM: Protesters from opposing groups are expected to descend on different sides of London after police banned Ukip activists from assembling in an East London area due to concerns of public unrest.
• Saturday: Vote counting starts to determine the new head of state of Ireland.

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

Campaign Key Points and Contender Positions

During the election race, Lucy Powell frequently mentioned errors made by the Labour Party on matters such as the winter heating payments. In a closing statement to backers, she appeared to criticise a top-down approach within government, stating that blindly following along 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.

Keir Starmer has recently faced a difficult period, 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 opinion polls have led to questions among MPs about Starmer’s leadership.

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

Meanwhile, Bridget Phillipson, seen as Number 10's preferred candidate, has stressed cohesion, warning that choosing her rival would result in internal debate and splits that could return the party back to opposition.

Additional Political Headlines

• Cutting the cash Isa limit may not persuade savers to switch to shares but could increase home loan rates, lawmakers have cautioned the chancellor.
• A heavy defeat for the Labour Party in the upcoming council elections could spell the end of Starmer's leadership, MPs have said, after the party suffered a significant loss in its Welsh heartland.
• Rishi Sunak was the sole MP provided a witness statement by the deputy national security adviser involved in a dispute over the dismissal of a case against two British men accused of espionage for China.

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