RAJBIR Singh, the now ex-council leader of Sandwell Council, has resigned as a councillor, triggering a local by-election.

Sandwell Council had confirmed Mr Singh, who had previously represented the Bristnall ward under the Labour party, has stepped down as councillor as of Wednesday afternoon.

The 41-year-old had first been elected into Sandwell Council in 2018.

The unusual move to quit partway through a term of office is likely to see the seat remain vacant until next May’s local elections, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands.

While details have yet to emerge, an emergency all-Labour party meeting took place last night at Sandwell Council House in an attempt to calm stunned councillor’s concerns.

Cllr Maria Crompton (Labour councillor for Tividale) has taken over as interim leader for a second time, and has pledged “business as usual” and “stability” at the authority, which has had five leaders and three chief executives in the last three years.

It is not known whether she will stand in the leadership election.

Potential candidates are believed to include Cllr Kerrie Carmichael (Labour councillor for Blackheath), who lost out to Mr Singh in May’s election, and former cabinet member Cllr Simon Hackett (Labs, Friar Park).

Current cabinet member for the environment Cllr Ahmad Bostan (Labour councillor for Abbey ward), has also been mentioned as a possible candidate.

The council is also seeking to recruit a new chief executive, although interviews for the role scheduled for next week are understood to have been cancelled without explanation.

It is expected a shortlist of Labour candidates who are eligible to re-stand in next year’s council elections will be unveiled in the coming days.