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Labour is set to declare its new deputy chief this Saturday, with polling data suggesting Lucy Powell leading the education secretary as voting concluded on the previous Thursday.

Today's Schedule of Events

Here is the political schedule for today, as per the PA news agency:

• 10am: Labour’s new deputy leader is set to be revealed in central London. Speeches are anticipated afterwards from the winner and the prime minister.
• 1pm: Protesters from rival factions are likely to descend on separate areas of the capital after police prohibited Ukip supporters from assembling in Whitechapel due to fears of public unrest.
• Saturday: Vote counting begins to determine the new head of state of the Irish Republic.

Additionally, the Epping Forest MP Neil Hudson is on the morning media rounds for the Tory party.

Campaign Highlights and Contender Positions

During the election race, Lucy Powell often mentioned errors made by the Labour Party on issues such as the winter heating payments. In a final message to supporters, she seemed to question a command and control culture within government, stating that blindly following along was a failure of duty.

Should Powell wins, the result is likely to be seen as a rebuke to the prime minister's leadership from Labour members.

The prime minister has recently endured a challenging period, dominated by a row over the grooming gangs inquiry and a defeat in the Welsh assembly by-election in Caerphilly.

Labour’s struggles in the opinion polls have led to questions among MPs about Starmer’s leadership.

Powell has stressed that she wants to help Keir and our government to prosper but also told supporters the party must change how it functions to improve the situation.

In contrast, Bridget Phillipson, seen as the prime minister's preferred candidate, has highlighted unity, cautioning that choosing her rival would result in internal debate and divisions that could return the party back to being in opposition.

Other Political Headlines

• Cutting the cash Isa limit may not encourage savers to switch to shares but could push up home loan rates, lawmakers have warned the chancellor.
• A heavy defeat for Labour in next May’s council elections could signal the termination of Keir Starmer’s premiership, parliamentarians have said, after the Labour suffered a significant loss in its Welsh heartland.
• The former prime minister was the only politician provided a witness statement by the security official implicated in a dispute over the dismissal of a legal case against two UK nationals alleged of spying for China.

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