COUNCILLOR Steve Eling has won the Sandwell Labour group leadership election amid more rancour at Oldbury Council House.

The new leader of Sandwell Council Cllr Eling beat Cllr Yvonne Davies by 36 votes to 23.

There was controversy during a stormy meeting tonight (Monday) as several councillors were barred from voting due to unpaid Labour Party subscriptions.

One of those believed to have been barred from voting was Cllr Pete Hughes whose job it was to run the election before Labour Party regional officers stepped in.

Cllr Yvonne Davies said she was "furious" about what had happened whereas Cllr Eling welcomed his victory.

He promised to deal with the ramifications of the Wragge Report into corruption at the authority and regain the public's confidence.

He said tonight: "I am delighted to have won with over 50 per cent of councillors which was needed for victory.

"I am sure I shall have some mud slung at me but the fact is that I won a democratic vote and even if those barred from voting had all voted against me, which is by no means certain, I still would have won.

"I'm shocked at those who have not paid their subs to the party."

He added: "I will make sure the chief executive will get on with sorting out the issues raised in the Wragge Report but we have to follow due process.

"I am going to run this council from now on with honesty, openness and transparency as three guiding principles."

On Friday night the election ended with Cllr Eling and Cllr Davies on 34 votes each with one spoiled ballot.

The Wragge Report into corruption at the council was published at 6pm on Friday despite Cllr Davies' efforts to stop it and councillors had the weekend to read its explosive contents.

Over the last 48 hours both camps attempted to shore up their votes and get wavering councillors to change their minds.

Cllr Eling's camp managed to get at least two councilors to switch sides which would have been enough to seal victory even if no-one had been barred from voting.

This was the third attempt to elect a leader in Sandwell after the death of Darren Cooper at Easter sparked the contest, the first meeting was suspended and the second in a dead heat.

In the battle for deputy leader as in the leadership election, Cllr Ian Jones pulled out leaving Cllr Syeda Khatun MBE to win unopposed.

Cllr Eling said: "I am delighted Cllr Khatun has won as she will be a brilliant deputy."