Badenoch says she is instructing lawyers to challenge government after Tory-run council's 94% tax hike

Badenoch says she has brought in lawyers to potentially challenge the government over local funding cuts, after a record council tax rise in one of her party's flagship local authorities.

Wandsworth Council's Tory deputy leader said on Tuesday: 'Higher council tax will not be easy or welcome. We do not regard it as fair and will continue to challenge the government by every possible means. '

The government said it was 'fixing an outdated funding system so funding goes where need is greatest.

Wandsworth Council has long had one of the lowest council tax rates in the country, with an average Band D property currently paying just over £1,000, compared to above £2,000 in an increasing number of London boroughs.

Changes to the funding formula for councils announced last year will see money redistributed from some council areas to others. Wandsworth Council said it stood to lose £84m annually in funding by the end of the next three years.

Commenting for the first time on the row, Badenoch accused ministers of seemingly 'taking money from areas that don't vote Labour and giving it to places that do vote Labour'.

'I think it is outrageous that Wandsworth Council is having to put up council tax,' she said. 'But they're not doing it because they want to. It is because the government has taken away 40% of their funding. '

Other London councils including Westminster, Richmond and Kensington and Chelsea along with Wandsworth are consulting on plans to use the Sustainable Communities Act to challenge government funding cuts.