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The Labour Party is poised to announce its fresh deputy leader today, with polls indicating the Manchester Central MP ahead of Bridget Phillipson as balloting closed on Thursday.

The Day's Political Agenda

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

• 10:00 AM: The party's deputy chief will be announced in London. Speeches are anticipated following the announcement from the victor and the prime minister.
• 1pm: Protesters from rival factions are likely to descend on different sides of the capital after police banned Ukip supporters from assembling in an East London area due to concerns of serious disorder.
• Today: Vote counting starts to determine the new head of state of Ireland.

Additionally, Epping Forest MP Conservative MP Neil Hudson is conducting the morning media rounds for the Conservatives.

Campaign Key Points and Candidate Stances

During the campaign, Lucy Powell often referred to mistakes made by the Labour Party on matters 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 does emerge victorious, the outcome is expected to be seen as a rebuke to Keir Starmer's leadership from party members.

The prime minister has already faced a difficult week, dominated by a dispute over the grooming gangs investigation and a defeat in the Senedd byelection in the Caerphilly seat.

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

Powell has emphasized that she wants to support the PM and administration to succeed but also told supporters the Labour needs to adapt how it operates to turn things around.

Meanwhile, Phillipson, seen as Number 10's favored choice, has stressed 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

• Cutting the annual cash Isa allowance may not persuade savers to switch to shares but could increase mortgage costs, lawmakers have warned the finance minister.
• A wipeout for the Labour Party in the upcoming council elections could signal the termination of Starmer's leadership, parliamentarians have said, after the party experienced a crushing defeat in its Welsh heartland.
• The former prime minister was the sole MP provided a witness statement by the deputy national security adviser implicated in a controversy over the collapse of a case against two British men accused of espionage for China.

The outcome of the deputy leadership election is scheduled to be declared at 10am BST.