Steve Trow elected new leader of Sandwell Council
Steve Trow has been elected as the new leader of Sandwell Council after his predecessor Steve Eling was suspended by the Labour party.
Councillor Trow was voted into power by councillors at a full meeting of the local authority tonight in Oldbury.
It follows his appointment as leader of Sandwell’s Labour Group in February after councillor Eling’s suspension.
Councillor Trow and Sandwell’s mayor, councillor Joy Edis, paid tribute to Steve Eling at the meeting.
“I am very honoured and rather humbled to become the new leader," Councillor Trow said.
“I would like to thank Councillor Eling for all his many years of dedicated service as leader and for all the years he has so expertly managed the council’s finances and resources.”
He confirmed that the cabinet will stay the same - including continuing in his own role as cabinet member for culture and core council services for the remaining fiscal year.
Councillor Edis, who like all but two independent Sandwell councillors also represents Labour, said: “Local government has faced many challenges over many year and councillor Eling has helped this council meet its challenges.”
The leadership election is the latest change in Sandwell's political intervention, caused largely by interventions from the national Labour party.
Councillor Eling was suspended by Labour’s National Executive Committee as it launched an investigation against him following a number of unspecified allegations. The move could stop him from standing for re-election to his Abbey ward seat in May.
Meanwhile veteran Sandwell councillor Anne Shackleton, cabinet member for social care, has been deselected by Labour for the upcoming council elections.
She said she was given no reason why she had been deselected and called the move "astonishing".
A Labour party spokesman said: “We don’t comment on internal party processes.”
