Conservatives have warned ahead of this week’s council election that taxpayers’ cash will be used to fund “town hall Trots”. An analysis by the party found there are 5,147 full-time equivalent trade union officials across local government at a cost of £41.2million a year.

It claims Transport for London employs a “staggering” 799 Full-Time Equivalent trade union staff at an annual cost of £7.9 million a year. Researchers found Glasgow City Council employs 179 FTE trade union staff, costing £2.5million.

The Tories warn Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s Employment Rights Bill will revoke measures to cap time spent on trade union activities.

Kevin Hollinrake, the Shadow Local Government Secretary, said: “The trade unions bankroll the Labour party, and in return, the Labour Government is now forcing taxpayers to bankroll the trade unions. Council tax bills will go through the roof to pay for an army of town hall Trots.

“In turn, Rayners’ Rabble will hold councils to ransom, organising taxpayer-funded strikes if councils don’t surrender to their inflated pay claims. The double whammy of bin chaos and soaring council tax in Birmingham is the shape of things to come under Labour.

“Only Conservative-run councils will deliver lower council tax and better services.”

A Government spokesperson shot back: “This Government is delivering the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a generation, and our measures have strong support amongst businesses and the public. We want a public sector that is efficient and delivers for the public, and these changes will help avoid disruptive industrial action while reducing costs and administrative reporting burdens on councils.

“We have allocated over £69billion for council budgets so we can fix the foundations and bring long-term stability.”