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Labour is ready to declare its fresh deputy leader today, with polls pointing to Lucy Powell in front of the education secretary as balloting concluded on the previous Thursday.

The Day's Political Agenda

Below is the political timeline 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: Demonstrators from rival factions are likely to descend on separate areas of London after authorities prohibited Ukip supporters from gathering in an East London area due to concerns of serious disorder.
• Today: Counting begins to reveal the next president of the Irish Republic.

Meanwhile, Epping Forest MP Neil Hudson is conducting the morning media rounds for the Tory party.

Campaign Key Points and Contender Stances

Throughout the campaign, Lucy Powell often referred to errors made by the Labour Party on issues such as the winter heating payments. In a closing statement to supporters, she seemed to question a top-down approach within the administration, 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 governance from Labour members.

Keir Starmer has already endured a challenging week, dominated by a row over the grooming gangs investigation and a defeat in the Welsh assembly by-election in Caerphilly.

Labour’s struggles in the opinion polls have sparked doubts among MPs about the leader's position.

Powell has stressed that she aims to help Keir and our government to succeed but also informed followers the Labour must change how it functions to turn things around.

In contrast, Phillipson, regarded as the prime minister's preferred candidate, has stressed cohesion, cautioning that voting for her opponent would result in internal debate and divisions that could lead the Labour back to opposition.

Additional Political Headlines

• Reducing the annual cash Isa allowance may not persuade investors to invest in stocks but could increase home loan rates, MPs have warned the finance minister.
• A heavy defeat for Labour in next May’s council elections could spell the end of Keir Starmer’s premiership, parliamentarians have stated, after the party experienced a significant loss in Wales.
• Rishi Sunak was the only politician sent a testimonial by the security official involved in a dispute over the collapse of a legal case against two British men alleged of espionage for China.

The result of the deputy leadership election is scheduled to be announced at 10am BST.