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The Labour Party is ready to reveal its fresh deputy leader today, with polls indicating the Manchester Central MP leading the education secretary as voting ended on Thursday.

Today's Political Agenda

Presented is the politics schedule for today, as per the PA news agency:

• 10:00 AM: The party's deputy chief will be announced in central London. Speeches are expected afterwards from the victor and the PM.
• 1:00 PM: Demonstrators from rival factions are likely to descend on different sides of London after authorities banned Ukip supporters from assembling in Whitechapel due to fears of public unrest.
• Saturday: Counting begins to determine the next president of Ireland.

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

Election Highlights and Candidate Positions

During the campaign, Lucy Powell frequently mentioned mistakes made by the Labour Party on issues such as the winter fuel allowance. In a closing statement to backers, she appeared to criticise a command and control approach within government, stating that unquestioning compliance was a dereliction of responsibility.

If Powell wins, the result is expected to be seen as a rebuke to Keir Starmer's leadership from party members.

The prime minister has recently faced a challenging period, dominated by a dispute over the grooming gangs investigation and a defeat in the Welsh assembly by-election in Caerphilly.

Labour’s struggles in the polls have sparked doubts among backbenchers about Starmer’s leadership.

Lucy Powell has emphasized that she wants to help Keir and our government to succeed but also told followers the Labour must change how it operates to improve the situation.

Meanwhile, Bridget Phillipson, regarded as the prime minister's favored choice, has stressed unity, cautioning that voting for her rival would result in internal debate and splits that could return the party back to opposition.

Additional Political Headlines

• Cutting the cash Isa limit may not encourage investors to invest in stocks but could push up home loan rates, MPs have warned the chancellor.
• A heavy defeat for the Labour Party in next May’s council elections could signal the termination of Starmer's leadership, parliamentarians have said, after the party suffered a significant loss in Wales.
• Rishi Sunak was the only politician provided a witness statement by the security official involved in a dispute over the collapse of a case against two UK nationals alleged of espionage for China.

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