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Labour is ready to announce its fresh deputy chief this Saturday, with surveys suggesting the Manchester Central MP ahead of Bridget Phillipson as voting ended on Thursday.

The Day's Schedule of Events

Here is the political schedule for Saturday, according to the PA news agency:

• 10:00 AM: Labour’s new deputy leader is set to be revealed in London. Speeches are expected following the announcement from the winner and the PM.
• 1pm: Demonstrators from rival factions are likely to descend on different sides of London after police banned Ukip activists from gathering in Whitechapel due to fears of public unrest.
• Today: Counting begins to determine the new head of state of the Irish Republic.

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

Election Highlights and Contender Stances

Throughout the campaign, Lucy Powell frequently 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 approach within the administration, arguing that unquestioning compliance was a failure of duty.

If Powell does emerge victorious, the result is expected to be seen as a criticism to the prime minister's leadership from Labour members.

Keir Starmer has recently faced a difficult period, marked by a row over the grooming gangs inquiry and a loss in the Senedd byelection in Caerphilly.

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

Lucy Powell has stressed that she aims to support the PM and administration to prosper but also told supporters the party needs to adapt how it functions to turn things around.

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

Additional Political Headlines

• Reducing the annual cash Isa allowance may not encourage savers to invest in stocks but could push up mortgage costs, MPs have cautioned the chancellor.
• A wipeout for Labour in next May’s local elections could signal the termination of Keir Starmer’s premiership, parliamentarians have stated, after the Labour suffered a crushing defeat in its Welsh heartland.
• Rishi Sunak was the only politician provided a testimonial by the security official implicated in a controversy over the collapse of a legal case against two UK nationals accused of espionage for China.

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