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The Labour Party is poised to declare its new deputy chief today, with surveys indicating the Manchester Central MP ahead of Bridget Phillipson as balloting ended on the previous Thursday.

The Day's Political Agenda

Presented is the politics agenda for today, based on the PA news agency:

• 10:00 AM: The party's deputy chief will be announced in central London. Addresses are expected afterwards from the winner and the PM.
• 1:00 PM: Demonstrators from rival factions are expected to descend on separate areas of London after police prohibited Ukip supporters from gathering in Whitechapel due to fears of serious disorder.
• Today: Counting starts to determine the new head of state of the Irish Republic.

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

Campaign Key Points and Candidate Stances

Throughout the campaign, Powell often referred to mistakes made by the Labour Party on matters such as the winter fuel allowance. In a final message to supporters, she appeared to criticise a top-down culture within the administration, stating that unquestioning compliance was a failure of duty.

If Powell wins, the outcome is likely to be seen as a rebuke to the prime minister's leadership from party members.

Keir Starmer has recently endured a challenging period, marked by a dispute over the grooming gangs inquiry and a loss in the Senedd byelection in Caerphilly.

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

Lucy Powell has stressed that she wants to help Keir and our government to succeed but also told supporters the party needs to adapt how it operates to turn things around.

Meanwhile, Phillipson, seen as the prime minister's favored choice, has highlighted unity, warning that choosing her opponent would result in internal debate and splits that could lead the party back to being in opposition.

Additional Political Headlines

• Reducing the cash Isa limit may not encourage savers to switch to shares but could increase home loan rates, MPs have cautioned the chancellor.
• A wipeout for the Labour Party in next May’s local elections could spell the end of Starmer's leadership, parliamentarians have stated, after the Labour suffered a crushing defeat in its Welsh heartland.
• The former prime minister was the only politician provided a testimonial by the security official implicated in a controversy over the collapse of a case against two UK nationals accused of spying for China.

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