A central plank of the Conservative campaign for the local elections later this month – that its councils guarantee lower levels of council tax – has been challenged by new figures which show that the Tories are responsible for the highest increases. The figures, which have been compiled by the House of Commons library, show that the Tories run eight of the 10 councils with the highest council tax increases. The most dramatic increase between 1997-2010, the period examined by the House of Commons library, was 537% in the Tory heartland of Huntingdonshire.

Of the 10 councils with the lowest rate of council tax, eight are held by Labour. The lowest increase among Labour councils was 36%. The council with the lowest increase was Wandsworth, controlled by the Tories, on 17%.

Labour said that the figures, drawn only from councils controlled by the same party during the 13 years of the last government, gave the lie to the Tory claim that Labour is profligate in local government. Hilary Benn, the shadow environment secretary, said: "This authoritative, independent research shows that it was Tory councils who were putting up council tax the most during the last Labour government. Labour recognises we have a cost-of-living crisis and will work to reduce energy prices, keep rents down and keep council taxes down."

The release of the figures came after David Cameron, the prime minister launched the Tory campaign for the local and European elections on 22 May by depicting the Tories as the low-tax party.

He said: "Labour ... waste[s] people's money and complain[s] they can't cut the council tax. Nationally their knee-jerk response to everything is more spending, more borrowing, more taxes, more burdens for hardworking families.

"It's the same old Labour. That's why we cannot ever let that lot back in charge of our economy and it's why we've got to tell people in these elections: don't let Labour do to your council what they did to our country."

But the prime minister was careful to define the Tory success as ensuring that the average B and D tax bill is lower under Conservative, than Labour, councils.

Bob Neil, a former Tory local government minister, said: "Council tax bills more than doubled under Labour, but we are the party of low taxes. Year after year, the average Conservative B and D tax bill is lower than a Labour one. The only way to keep council tax down is to vote Conservative on 22 May."

In his speech launching the Tory election campaign, the prime minister highlighted the threat posed by Nigel Farage by making a rare reference to Ukip. "I don't need to discredit Ukip," he said, "they do a good enough job themselves. Their own leader admits they 'cannot change a thing in Brussels'.

"So this is who we're up against: Labour – all short-term gimmicks and no long-term plan. UKIP – all talk and no delivery."