🔗 Share this article

The Labour Party is ready to declare its fresh deputy chief this Saturday, with polls pointing to the Manchester Central MP in front of Bridget Phillipson as voting concluded on the previous Thursday.

Today's Schedule of Events

Presented is the politics agenda for Saturday, as per the news schedule:

• 10:00 AM: Labour’s new deputy leader is set to be revealed in central London. Speeches are expected following the announcement from the winner and the PM.
• 1:00 PM: Demonstrators from opposing groups are expected to descend on different sides of London after police banned Ukip activists from assembling in an East London area due to concerns of serious disorder.
• Saturday: Vote counting begins to reveal the new head of state of the Irish Republic.

Meanwhile, the Epping Forest MP Conservative MP Neil Hudson is on the morning media rounds for the Conservatives.

Campaign Key Points and Candidate Stances

Throughout the campaign, Lucy Powell often mentioned mistakes made by the Labour Party on issues such as the winter heating payments. In a closing statement to backers, she seemed to question a top-down culture within government, arguing that blindly following along was a dereliction of responsibility.

Should Powell does emerge victorious, the result is expected to be seen as a rebuke to Keir Starmer's leadership from party members.

The prime minister has already endured a challenging period, dominated by a dispute over the grooming gangs investigation and a defeat in the Senedd byelection in Caerphilly.

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

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

Meanwhile, Bridget Phillipson, regarded as Number 10's favored choice, has highlighted cohesion, warning that choosing her rival would result in internal debate and splits that could return the Labour back to being in opposition.

Additional Political Headlines

• Reducing the annual cash Isa allowance may not encourage savers to invest in stocks but could increase mortgage costs, lawmakers have cautioned the finance minister.
• A heavy defeat for Labour in the upcoming council elections could spell the end of Starmer's leadership, MPs have said, after the party suffered a crushing defeat in Wales.
• Rishi Sunak was the only politician sent a testimonial by the deputy national security adviser implicated in a dispute over the dismissal of a legal case against two British men accused of espionage for China.

The result of the deputy leader contest is expected to be announced at 10am BST.