Reeves considers breaking manifesto pledge with income tax rise to fill £30bn gap

The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is understood to be nervous about the political consequences of abandoning Labour’s previous pledges. Photograph: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing/Getty Images

Rachel Reeves is considering raising income tax at next month’s budget to help reduce a multibillion pound shortfall, sources have told the Guardian.

The chancellor is in active discussions over breaking one of her party’s main manifesto pledges as she looks for ways to clear an estimated shortfall of more than £30bn, according to three sources close to the budget process.