We have kept our counsel thus far in the case of Oxford councillor Olive McIntosh-Stedman who was recently convicted of making a false statement to obtain council tax benefit.

Those who have met her will know her as something of an eccentric. We are prepared to be charitable and accept that she made a mistake. It was, however, a big mistake. Not only has she been convicted of a fraud, it was also a fraud on the tax payer - the very people she is elected to represent.

The fact that Mrs McIntosh-Stedman continues to cling on as a county councillor, and one guesses to collect her allowances, goes beyond eccentricity. She should have done the decent thing and resigned long ago.