A London council is under fire for allegedly breaking political neutrality rules ahead of a crucial by-election.
Wandsworth Labour accused the local Conservative Party of breaching pre-election period (PEP) guidelines by using official town hall social media accounts to post about Government cuts.
A massive by-election that could decide which party runs the local authority is due to take place on August 27.
In the run up to the poll PEP rules, which mean the town hall and public bodies must maintain strict political neutrality, apply.
But in a now deleted Facebook post, Wandsworth council wrote the borough was facing a “serious financial crisis” and “urgent action” was needed in the wake of Government funding cuts.
In a video posted on the borough’s official Instagram page, the Tory deputy leader of the council said his party had “inherited a £137million-per-year budget gap” driven in part by a 40 per cent reduction in funding by the Labour government.
Simon Hogg, Wandsworth Labour leader said: “The Tories have been caught out, they are using council like a Conservative Party press machine, misleading residents.
“They are doing it to try and influence the result of this really important by-election.
“Residents know Wandworth council has some of the highest reserves and lowest debt of any council in London.
“Wandsworth Conservatives are refusing to announce their council tax plans - they even hid it from their manifesto during the elections.
“Instead they are inflicting cuts on the most vulnerable resident and axing vital council homes."
Under Labour's Fairer Funding Review Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, Wandsworth, Westminster and the City of London, as well as Windsor and Maidenhead, will see the largest cuts to funding settlements.
The six town halls will be exempt from the cap on raising council tax, set at 5 per cent, from next year, which means bills will likely need to hiked well above the national maximum to make up shortfalls.
A Wandsworth Conservatives spokesman said: “A link to further information on the council's website was inadvertently omitted from the Facebook post published on July 22. This was subsequently corrected on July 23, when the election notice was issued. However, out of an abundance of caution, the post was subsequently removed.
“The underlying facts regarding the council's financial challenges have not changed and continue to be available on the council's website, where they have been published in accordance with the relevant legal requirements."
Wandsworth council was contacted for comment.
At the local elections the Tories secured 29 seats on Wandsworth council, placing the party one short of the 30 required for a majority.
Labour has 28 councillors. But Labour councillor Lizzy Dobres, who represented Trinity ward, quit her role shortly after the polls in May to take up a new job that is "politically restricted".
A by-election has been called that will decide control of the council for the next four years.
If the Conservatives win, the party will have a two-seat majority whereas at the moment they control town hall as a minority administration.
