The acting leader of Sandwell Council Steve Eling has told the News tonight the long-awaited Wragge Report into corruption allegations will be published.

Cllr Eling will be leader of the council for the foreseeable future after the Labour Party suspended the leadership election which was due on Monday.

And he has decided to use his position of power to decide to publish the report which was meant to be concluded in January.

Speaking after seeing Labour conclude a clean sweep of 24 seats he said: "The Wragge Report will be published.

"I cannot say when exactly because the chief executive Jan Britton has it and we have to go through due process but it will be published."

Warley MP John Spellar backed Cllr Eling's decision.

He said: "I think this is the right decision by Cllr Eling, it needs to be published.

"It will help start his leadership on the right footing and will clear the decks for the future."

Wragge, Lawrence and Graham Solicitors were commissioned in October 2014 by former Sandwell Council leader Darren Cooper when West Midlands Police announced it was investigating alleged dodgy land deals in Oldbury.

Former deputy leader Mahboob Hussain and regeneration cabinet member resigned their positions to clear their names and were suspended by the Labour Party.

Both councillors have now had their suspensions lifted after West Midlands Police announced there was no case to answer.