Ministers are working behind the scenes to win senate support for tax reform by increasing local government’s tax raising powers, the NRC says on Thursday.

The paper bases its claims on sources in The Hague.

The €5bn package of tax reforms will not win approval in the senate unless a deal can be struck with enough opposition parties. The ruling coalition does not control the upper house of parliament.

However, giving local authorities greater powers to raise taxes is a long-held wish of the D66 Liberal democrats and the Christian Democrats also back the idea, the NRC says.

Other attempts to win opposition backing for the plans have failed.