Tony Hayward, chief executive of BP, scarcely deserves plaudits for his handling of relations with the US following his company’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico but his chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg has performed at least as poorly by failing to live up to his duties.

Some investors are going so far as to say that Svanberg as well as Hayward, should have confirmed his departure today, although the dates would need to be staggered to maintain continuity. Hayward is set to step down on October 1. Svanberg should linger no longer than the end of the year.