TONY Ramsden’s tenure chairing his local branch of the Federation of Small Businesses did not last long.

As soon as the Daily Echo reported his appointment on Friday, members began talking about leaving.

So the fact that Mr Ramsden has done the right thing and stood down is not altogether surprising.

What is surprising is that Mr Ramsden, with six convictions for dishonesty and three bankruptcies behind him, could have been elected in the first place.

Small businesses are used to hard work – and restoring the FSB’s credibility locally will take plenty of that.