The identity of a Labour councillor taken to court over an unpaid £1,400 tax bill “will come out soon”, according to politicians.

Councillors of all parties gathered at Hendon Town Hall last night for the final full council meeting of the municipal year, hours after Labour admitted the unknown culprit was one of its members.

One Labour member, who did not want to be named, said the scandal was “the last thing the party needs so close to the election”, which takes place in May.

They added: “It is being investigated and it will come out. I understand there was some sort of dispute and there is a bit of a back story, but the sooner it comes out the better.”

The London-wide Labour group is understood to be handling the investigation.

Last night’s meeting was somewhat overshadowed by the political whodunit after Labour group leader Councillor Alison Moore stood up in front of the chamber to announce the councillor was a Labour member.

However, the opposition leader continued to refuse to name the individual, who was summonsed to court at some point between January 1, 2013, and January 31, 2014, having failed to pay a £1,400 council tax bill.

Councillor Moore continued to remain tight-lipped despite facing questions from this newspaper as the meeting ended.