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Splits have emerged at the top of Labour over breaking its manifesto promises on tax hikes, as Sir Keir Starmer was forced to reprimand a Cabinet minister over ethics and defend another from criticism over the handling of mistaken prison releases.

Labour’s new deputy leader Lucy Powell said the Government “should be following through” on its manifesto pledge not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT, amid mounting speculation Rachel Reeves is preparing to do so at the Budget.

Ms Powell’s warning that a break could damage “trust in politics” could cause a head

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