Labour candidates told they are campaigning too much in their own seats

Ellie Reeves, the party’s deputy national campaign coordinator, wrote in an email to candidates that there was ‘too much activity in some of our held seats’. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Getty Images

Labour election candidates have been told they are doing too much campaigning in their own safe seats and must spend more time in battleground constituencies, causing friction with candidates who are concerned about a backlash from Labour voters.

The instructions from Labour HQ have met opposition from some candidates, especially in London and big cities. A number of those in inner-city constituencies told the Guardian they were uncomfortable about ignoring voters locally, especially over the party’s stance on Gaza.