What do you do with a problem like Kay Sheldon?

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." -Albert Einstein

OK coasters, The Twunt has got a problem. On the 13th of May I have a meeting with a non-executive director of the Care Quality Commission. Her appointment is up for renewal and she wants to stay on. Her name is Kay Sheldon (@KayFSheldon on Twitter) and she has got A FUCKING CHEEK!!!

If you've never heard of her before then you may not know that Sheldon has been in this position before. She blew the whistle on the CQC's catastrophic leadership during the Midstaffs clusterfuck as part of a ridiculous grandstanding gesture at the Midstaffs public inquiry. This unfortunately ended up with the then CEO of the CQC (Cynthia Bower) resigning. This pissed off the Chair of the CQC (Dame Jo Williams) so much that she did this and then wrote to Andrew Lansley asking him to give Sheldon the boot. Lansley refused. Dear Readers. I know Andrew Lansley, I've shaken Andrew Lansley's hand and looked into those cold dead eyes. Let me tell you now...I am no Andrew Lansley. Sheldon is getting the boot.

All this kept Sheldon in the firing line at the CQC As can be seen in this car-crash grilling of Jo Williams by the Health Select Committee here (starting from 11.29 and really hotting up at 11.47). Williams exposes Sheldon as the nut job which she undoubtedly is (before being embarrassingly called out by Valerie Vaz and inviting this complimentary comment from the respected health commentator Andy Cowper -@HPIAndyCowper). 

Now you'd think that given the clear out of the CQC's executive team last week Sheldon would be in the clear. However, the current incumbent of the chairs position (Former Tory MP David Prior) has told me that he thinks that given her position she should resign as a NED. Which is why I referred to her relation ship with the board as having a "long history of acrimony." (Answer to Q533)

Well what makes a good non executive director? That's a big question but it can be succinctly answered in three words. The Nolan Principles.

The Nolan Principles were created as part of the first report by the Committee on standards in public Life (itself created by John Major in 1994 as his government became mired in allegations of sleaze). There are 7 of them and as they form part of the ministerial code they apply to me as much as they do to Sheldon. Her problem is not that she didn't follow the ones that apply to her to the letter...but that she took them way too fucking seriously:

• Selflessness Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other benefits for themselves, their family or their friends. - To be honest...this one is an utter mystery to me. I can't think of one member of this cabinet who this applies to. Sheldon on the other hand has just gone off at the deep end with this selflessness shit. She just carries on doing her job despite every banana skin put in her way.

• Integrity Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties. WELL this is all well and good but The Twunt suggests an additional consideration. People shouldn't have TOO MUCH integrity  Sheldon obviously does.  She  was only allowed to stay on the exec team after intervention Andrew Lansley once he had been prodded by Sheldon about his own policies towards whistleblowers

• Objectivity In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit. - Hahahahahahaaaaa! Suffice to say Ill be ignoring this one on Monday.

• Accountability Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office. Oh....I think Sheldon is going to be held accountable. I'll see to it...

• Openness Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands it. Sheldon is BIIIG on this one...JUST READ THIS SHIT FOR GODS SAKE!!!

• Honesty Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest. Jeezus....I dont even know what to say about this. You can be too honest you know...Sheldon was

• Leadership Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example. - Ahem......

So, ask yourself.,,,do you really want to see someone like Sheldon working at the CQC? Now, I see that the word has gotten out about this meeting and I'm starting to get tweets off dickheads like this....

This does not please me. I don't want to see anything else like this again. OK? Sheldon is going down. End of.