Labour to protect existing MPs above winning more seats at next election, deputy leader says

Party will also teach MPs how to be ‘community leaders’ and take credit for government’s work, Lucy Powell says

Labour will switch to an “incumbency first” model to protect MPs at the next election rather than targeting seats, the deputy leader, Lucy Powell, has told Labour MPs.

Powell said the party would support MPs to become “leaders in their communities” and learn how to benefit politically from changes made by the government, which MPs have so far gained little credit for.