THE leadership battle for Sandwell Council has been thrown into disarray with the Labour Party calling off Monday’s election.

Councillors were due to pick from acting council leader Councillor Steve Eling who was believed to be being challenged by councillors Yvonne Davies and Ian Jones.

But the Sandwell Labour Party annual meeting on Monday has now being suspended by national officials after former deputy leader Oldbury councillor Mahboob Hussain threatened legal action.

It is understood Cllr Hussain, who was suspended along with Cllr Jones amid allegations into dodgy land deals which a police investigation failed to prove, did not want the election to go ahead whilst he was still suspended as this barred him from being involved.

The Labour Party has now lifted Cllr Mahboob's suspension but will not confirm when the election will be.

The election was sparked by the need to replace former leader Cllr Darren Cooper who tragically died at Easter.

A Labour source said: "Monday night's election will not go ahead, the national party has now got involved and has suspended the agm.

"We have no idea when the election will be now."

Finance supremo Cllr Eling, who became acting leader when Cllr Cooper died, was expected to stand unchallenged.

However, Cllr Jones, whose own suspension was overturned in the high court, has thrown his hat in the ring for both the leader and deputy leader jobs.

There are now demands for the Wragge Report, which was commissioned by the council to look into irregularities concerning the land deals, to be published.

Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris this week demanded taxpayers see the report which has cost an estimated £100,000 to compile.

He said:"Sandwell ratepayers deserve to know the contents of this report.

"It is only right that these matters are debated in the open, and for residents to have faith in our scrutiny processes they need to be able to see it for themselves."

The report was due to be completed in January.

The deputy leadership election was also due to be held on Monday night but has also been postponed.

Along with Cllr Ian Jones, councillors Maria Crompton and Syeda Khatun are believed to be vying for the post.