🔗 Share this article Labour's New Deputy Leader Set to Be Announced This Saturday The Labour Party is poised to announce its fresh deputy chief this Saturday, with polls suggesting the Manchester Central MP ahead of Bridget Phillipson as voting ended on Thursday. Today's Political Agenda Below is the politics agenda for today, as per 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 prime minister. 1pm: Protesters from opposing groups are expected to gather in separate areas of London after police banned Ukip activists from assembling in an East London area due to fears of serious disorder. Saturday: Counting begins to reveal the next president of Ireland. Meanwhile, the Epping Forest MP Conservative MP Neil Hudson is on the media interviews for the Conservatives. Campaign Key Points and Candidate Stances During the election race, Lucy Powell frequently referred to errors made by the party on issues such as the winter heating payments. In a closing statement to backers, she appeared to criticise a top-down approach within government, arguing that unquestioning compliance was a failure of duty. If Powell wins, the result is likely to be seen as a rebuke to Keir Starmer's leadership from party members. The prime minister has recently faced a difficult period, marked by a row over the grooming gangs investigation and a loss in the Senedd byelection in Caerphilly. Labour’s struggles in the opinion polls have sparked doubts among MPs about Starmer’s leadership. Powell has emphasized that she aims to support the PM and administration to prosper but also informed followers the Labour needs to adapt how it functions to improve the situation. In contrast, Phillipson, seen as the prime minister's favored choice, has highlighted cohesion, warning that choosing her rival would result in party disputes and splits that could return the Labour back to opposition. Other News Highlights Reducing the cash Isa limit may not persuade savers to switch to shares but could increase mortgage costs, MPs have cautioned the finance minister. A wipeout for Labour in the upcoming council elections could spell the end of Starmer's leadership, parliamentarians have stated, after the party experienced a crushing defeat in its Welsh heartland. Rishi Sunak was the sole MP sent a testimonial by the deputy national security adviser implicated in a controversy over the dismissal of a legal case against two UK nationals alleged of espionage for China. The outcome of the deputy leader contest is scheduled to be declared at 10am BST.