A WAR of words continues between the Sandwell Council leader and MP James Morris after the publication of the Local Government Association peer review.

Following the release of the independent Government-funded report yesterday, the MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis took a swipe at Councillor Steve Eling – claiming the leader was “demonstrating that he hasn’t got a clue” about what goes on in the Labour-led authority.

He also said the review – which was largely positive and praised the council in a number of areas – was “vague, woolly and a whitewash” and “posed more questions than answers”, adding that he has requested a meeting with the LGA to discuss his concerns further.

But Cllr Eling has hit back, saying the “under-fire” Conservative MP has “got it all wrong and is now acting like a spoilt child”.

The pair have been at loggerheads since Mr Morris held a debate in the House of Commons in January where he openly criticised the council for the way it has dealt with well-publicised allegations of misconduct and corruption. The MP also questioned the authority’s leadership and called for Cllr Eling to resign from his role.

Following the publication of the LGA report, Mr Morris said Sandwell needs a “strong, robust, independent investigation” into the way the council operates.

He added: “Cllr Eling assured us all that this report would wipe the slate clean. But it poses more questions than answers.

“In his response to my debate he said the council was run well. The following day a damning Ofsted report was published and today the LGA have asked the council to get external help in cleaning up their governance.

“Cllr Eling is demonstrating that he hasn’t got a clue what is going on in his own council.”

But the council leader has argued the LGA’s peer review is what the MP wanted.

Cllr Eling told the News: “Almost every council in the country has now had a mandatory LGA review and ours was one of the best.

“Some things have been really celebrated, which we are extremely happy with. Obviously there are always improvements which can be made, but we have acknowledged that and we will act on them.

“So for Morris to come out and say what he did is ridiculous.

“This is the independent investigation he has wanted. It’s the national standard which has been funded by his own government – and because it’s not gone the way he wanted it to he’s thrown his toys out of the pram.

“He’s called the report a ‘whitewash’, but if he complains to the government who does he think those at the national level are going to stand by? Him or their own report?

“He needs to put up or shut up. Continuing his political dregs campaign against Sandwell does nothing to serve his constituents and will make himself look stupid.

“Dudley’s peer review was not as positive as ours but did you see him calling out their leader like he has against me?

“It stinks of political hypocrisy.”