Labour MPs have been warned not to share messages on social media or speak to journalists apart from to pay tribute to the Queen during the period of national mourning. The rules have caused some disquiet among MPs and shadow ministers who believe the party should continue to speak out about the cost of living crisis. In guidance circulated this week, seen by the Guardian, MPs were asked to “suspend all campaigning and party activity” though continue to do casework and hold advice surgeries. MPs have been advised to stay away from Westminster and the House of Commons building, where they work. They have been told to stop their political communications with constituents, including email updates and newsletters, which at least one MP said they had ignored to send their constituents an update on the energy freeze package announced last week. The advice also says “you should not post anything on social media, except your own tribute or what you have been asked to share from the PLP office … you should make sure any posts on social media do not include political branding”. It says: “You should not do any media, except for your own tribute to local outlets.” MPs are encouraged to cancel any of their own events during the state funeral. Another shadow minister questioned the “ridiculous omerta” on speaking about political matters, and a number of MPs have broken cover to question the arrests of republican protesters and to speak out about the inflation figures. One MP said they were frustrated by the “enforced radio silence” especially around the arrests of protesters. “Labour being outflanked by Sky News on this issue isn’t a good look,” they said. Labour sources emphasised that the advice issued to MPs had been guidance about media handling and played down any prospect of MPs being disciplined for speaking out on other topics – depending on the egregiousness of the circumstances. The source said most MPs had been understanding about the request to suspend political campaigning and no direct complaints had been made to Keir Starmer’s team. Starmer said on Wednesday those who wished to protest against the monarchy should respect people mourning the Queen and not ruin their opportunity to express their private thanks. The Labour leader told BBC Breakfast the right to protest and disagree was a British tradition, but he called for it to be done “in the spirit of respect”. “Respect the fact that hundreds of thousands of people do want to come forward and have that moment. Don’t ruin it for them,” he said. “I think if people have spent a long time waiting to come forward to have that moment as the coffin goes past or whatever it may be, I think respect that, because people have made a huge effort to come and have that private moment to say thank you to Queen Elizabeth II.” Starmer told BBC Breakfast: “Today, I’ll be there as part of the reception committee to receive the coffin. Then later on this evening in a private capacity, because my wife and our children … they want to come in, and as a family we will then pay our own personal respects to a remarkable sovereign.” He also spoke of how the country’s response to the Queen’s death had been “very moving”. “It’s a very human emotion, I think, where people just want to come, have that private moment where they say thank you to a remarkable sovereign,” Starmer said. “I think it’s been very moving across the whole country. It’s been quite an incredible moment where so many people have come together.”