The General Medical Council’s (GMC) 5-year rule, prevents the regulator from investigating complaints about a doctor’s fitness to practise if the events – including sexual misconduct – occurred more than five years ago. 

Under this rule (Rule 4(5) of the Fitness to Practise Rules 2004) allegations that relate to events more than 5 years old are not usually investigated by the GMC except in rare “exceptional circumstances in the public interest”.   This denies justice to victims of sexual assault and harassment and fails patients, as some alleged perpetrators are left unchallenged and able to continue practising in the NHS. 

Daisy has campaigned – coincidentally for five years – for the 5-year rule to be scrapped. 

In 2021, Daisy was contacted separately by two constituents with different but equally harrowing accounts of sexual misconduct by a medical professional – only to discover that the GMC would not examine the cases due to the policy. After she started her campaign, she heard stories from women from all around the country. 

Since then she has tabled parliamentary questions and legislation, led a Parliamentary debate on the issue, and raised awareness through the media, pressing the previous Conservative and now Labour governments to act. 

In 2023, it was revealed that almost one in three female surgeons working in the NHS had been sexually assaulted in the past five years, according to a survey published in the British Journal of Surgery. 

In 2024, Daisy ensured that the commitment to scrap the 5-year rule was also in the Liberal Democrats 2024 General Election manifesto. 

After re-tabling legislation this week, the government published a consultation including the proposal to scrap the time-limit. 

Daisy said:

“This could be a major breakthrough for women’s safety and I hope so much, after all my campaigning, that victims, predominantly women, don’t have to wait much longer for change.

“Both NHS staff and patients have been victims of sexual assault by a medical practitioner and shocking reports show that it can happens in all corners of hospital settings – in car parks, in medicine cupboards and shockingly, according to female surgeons, even in surgical wards when they’re operating on a patient. 

“There are very good reasons why some victims don’t make a complaint for five years – for example, patients by definition can be severely unwell, and may take years to feel strong enough to make a complaint after their treatment and recovery. 

“This arbitrary rule has robbed these women from getting justice, and left other patients and staff at risk when perpetrators can not be struck off. 

“I’m incredibly relieved that after my five-year long campaign and tabling legislation for the second time, that the government is finally paving the way to end this appalling scandal.”

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Daisy’s entry on this list recognises her strong voice on economic matters such as the cost of living and her long-standing campaigning to address the social care crisis.

In addition, Daisy was recognised for the role she has played supporting her fellow MPs following the party’s most successful General Election result ever in 2024. 

Daisy said:

“It’s a huge honour to be included in the 2026 Women in Westminster list alongside other powerful women making a difference in public life, such as veteran MP and ‘Mother of the House’ Diane Abbott, former President of the NFU Minette Batters, disability campaigner and Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson and Carole Gould, co-founder of Killed Women. 

“Representation matters, so it’s really important that the next generation of young girls – and boys – can see women of all backgrounds in every walk of life, but especially in public life, where women hold the powerful to account, or hold the highest offices of state themselves. 

“I’m really honoured to be included in this year’s list and to have my work championing our local area recognised, alongside my efforts to put a human face on every decision taken in Westminster. 

“I hope that reading about everything women are achieving in politics and public life will show women everywhere that their voice matters, and ensure young women know that – if they choose – a women’s place is most certainly in the House of Commons.”

Also on the list are fellow MPs like Wendy Chamberlain and Florence Eshalomi, members of the House of Lords like Tanni Grey-Thompson, government Ministers including the Chancellor and Home Secretary, leading political journalists like Laura Kuenssberg, senior civil servants, campaigners, and more.

The list aims to showcase the immense inputs so many women are making to public life every single day, and continue championing women’s representation.

The entry for Daisy reads:

On International Women’s Day last year, Daisy Cooper MP delivered a keynote speech urging more women to stand for public office. Her message was straightforward. “It is awesome being a woman in politics.” 

Cooper is well-placed to make that judgment. Throughout 2025, the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats has continued to build her profile with the public and strengthen her position as one of her party’s most senior and credible Westminster performers. She has combined her important party role with a Treasury spokesperson brief that has made her a central figure in a year dominated by debates around the economy, public services, and living standards.

Her authority in that role is underpinned by an unusually broad policy background. Before taking on the treasury portfolio, Cooper held briefs spanning education, justice, culture, and health and social care. That has given her a detailed understanding of how economic decisions play out at the sharp end of public service delivery. She has been a consistent and vocal advocate for reform in adult social care, including proposals for free personal care and better pay and status for care workers.

“Daisy Cooper has been direct and authentic in communications, principles, and conviction, not just standing for Liberal Democrat values, but as an influential humanitarian,” one nominator wrote. “In these uncertain times, her Liberal Democratic voice is much needed and highly valued.” 

Alongside her external profile, nominators highlight the important internal role that Cooper has played in supporting new MPs, sharing practical lessons on scrutiny, campaigning, and parliamentary effectiveness. As a former local counselor, her approach to leadership remains rooted in localism and community engagement, shaping how she connects national policy to everyday experience.

“A born communicator,” another nominator said of Cooper, “Daisy is energetic, sassy, and approachable – a person who has not forgotten where she has come from.”

Daisy and her Liberal Democrat colleague Wendy Chamberlain MP who also featured on the list, attending the launch event in Parliament.

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In these areas, small verges and green pockets that residents have used and enjoyed for decades have suddenly appeared at auction, often advertised with misleading suggestions that they could be developed.

These parcels of land were assumed to be owned by St Albans district council, after the developer formally agreed to transfer ownership in the 1970s. Since then they’ve been maintained by public funds.

However – for reasons unknown – this transfer never occurred, allowing an auction house to begin listing them just a few years ago.

Private buyers have since purchased them, believing they could be developed on, but all planning applications they subsequently submitted have been refused.

The result has been a cycle of frustration, wasted money, and a heavy burden on the local planning authority. And all the while, local residents have seen their lives and access to precious green spaces disrupted.

Daisy’s Amenity Land (Purchase by Local Authorities) Bill would give St Albans District council the power to buy back these small parcels of land at a nominal fee. This would allow them to be restored to public ownership and protected from inappropriate development.

Daisy wrote to the government in January 2026 but received a disappointing response, so has now tabled this Bill to push the issue again.

She also warned that the problem extends far beyond St Albans, with similar cases emerging in Wellingborough, Thanet, Falmouth, Warwickshire, Chartham, and Henlow. Polly Billington, MP for East Thanet, has co-sponsored Daisy’s Bill.

Daisy said:

“These green spaces were created for our local community, not for speculative profit.

“Residents of the Verulam Estate have experienced years of needless anxiety because of a loophole that should never have existed, which auction houses have exploited by selling land which can’t be developed to private buyers.

“My Bill would close that loophole once and for all. It’d protect Verulam Estate’s green spaces as vital community assets, end the merry-go-round of speculative planning applications, and cycle of frustration and wasted money for buyers of this land and council tax payers.”

After presenting the Bill in Parliament last week (on 25 March), she wrote to the government again urging them to work with her and the MP who co-sponsored her Bill.

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Hertfordshire continues to have the lowest number of mental health inpatient beds per head of population in England, leaving many residents who are experiencing acute mental health crises without access to local support.

Some families have reported that their loved ones were placed in facilities far from home due to a lack of available beds nearby, limiting essential contact with familiar support networks at a critical time, whilst also pushing up local NHS spend on private beds miles away. 

Daisy raised this issue with the previous Conservative government in 2023 but they failed to act. 

Earlier this year on 7th January, Daisy Cooper MP met with the new Labour Hospitals Minister to raise the need for additional capacity, and to highlight Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation Trust’s (HPFT) proposal for a new facility in Stevenage. The proposed development would help increase the number of inpatient beds in the county and ease pressure on existing mental health services in West Hertfordshire.

Following the face-to-face meeting, Daisy has now written to the Minister to outline the support of local health authorities for the proposal and to underline the urgent need for expanded provision. 

Daisy said:

“Time and again, I’ve heard heartbreaking stories from local families who have seen their loved ones sent miles away, just at the very moment they needed their support networks the most. No family should have to make long and exhausting journeys just to be present for someone in crisis. Increasing local inpatient capacity is vital to ensuring that people can receive care close to home and recover faster. 

“I know that the Minister genuinely understands the need to improve and expand NHS buildings in community settings and I’m grateful to her for giving me the time to make the case for this important project. 

“Our local mental health trust has the land and the plans – they just need government money to build it. What’s more, given the cost of sending people out-of-area, this new build project would effectively pay for itself from day one with recurring savings every year thereafter. This means that giving the green light for these new beds would not only be good for people in crisis and their families, but good for the tax-payer too.” 

Daisy meeting with the Hospitals Minister on 7 January 2026.

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The event brought together local residents, councillors, members of Hertfordshire Police, and leaders from across different faith communities for the traditional breaking of the fast during Ramadan.

The annual Iftar aimed to strengthen community cohesion, celebrate shared values, and highlight the Foundation’s work across the area.

The programme of speakers included:

• Minar Ali, Chair of PBFC
• Mohammed Rafi, Advisor to PBFC
• Daisy Cooper, MP for St Albans

In her remarks, Daisy Cooper MP said:

“It’s a real privilege to join the PBFC Community Foundation and so many members of our community for this year’s Iftar. Ramadan is a month of reflection, compassion, and coming together and it’s great to see the Iftar celebrations going from strength to strength.

“At a time of so much conflict in the world, particularly in the Middle East, many of us will be thinking of those who are not able to come together to celebrate. But here in St Albans tonight, this is a moment of celebration. 

“I’m also incredibly proud of the work being done by PBFC, and other community, civic and faith leaders to ensure that global conflicts do not spill over onto our streets. Together we are determined that St Albans will remain a safe, inclusive place for all. As you break the fast, I wish you an enjoyable evening.”

Minar Ali, Chair of PBFC, said:

“I would like to thank Daisy Cooper MP for taking the time to visit and attend our Iftar gathering. Her presence and support meant a great deal to our community. Events like this are an important opportunity to bring people together, strengthen understanding, and build meaningful bridges across our wider community.

“I would also like to thank the community leaders, councillors and everyone who attended this event. Their presence truly made this evening successful. We look forward to working with the community again at future events.”

Mohammed Rafi, Advisor to PBFC, said:

“The diverse representatives present reminded us of the importance of the community, the value of sharing, and the pursuit of spiritual growth to bridge cultures and cultivate mutual respect. With over 150 people attending the event, it is a credit to the PBFC team, who work earnestly to promote mutual understanding and support community development, and to preserve the cultural and religious heritages that enriches St Albans.”

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“St Albans constituents who have used Mount Vernon consistently tell me that their treatment there is excellent, and that the services provided are very well regarded.  At the same time, the 2019 review – which found that the continuation of cancer services from this site in future would be unsustainable – has of course caused a great deal of concern and anxiety.

“As we all live longer, cancer cases are becoming more complex to treat because people have other conditions as well, so cancer centres need to be co-located with A&E and intensive care units. Moving the Mount Vernon facilities to the Watford General site is the only way to achieve this, and would therefore help save lives.”

A public consultation is now open on proposals to relocate the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to Watford General Hospital. The consultation, launched last month, invites residents, patients, carers, and stakeholders to share their views before the deadline on 29 March 2026.

The proposals under consultation would bring Mount Vernon’s specialist services onto the same site as Watford General Hospital. According to the consultation documents, this co‑location aims to strengthen clinical safety, and improve patient outcomes. 

Members of the public are encouraged to review the consultation materials and submit their views before the closing date. The consultation is open until 29 March 2026, and responses can be submitted online here: https://mvccreview.nhs.uk/

Daisy joining Brain Cancer Justice campaigners, including from St Albans, to deliver a petition for increased research funding to 10 Downing Street earlier this month (Photo Credit: Brain Cancer Justice).

Daisy at the Cancer Research Race for Life in St Albans, in July 2024.

Daisy supporting the Lobular Moonshot Project in their calls for more research funding into Lobular Cancer, in Parliament.

Daisy joining West Herts Hospital charity’s fundraising efforts for new breast cancer scanners at St Albans City Hospital, in November 2024.

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The Partnership is inviting a local group to adopt Bricket Wood station, giving volunteers the chance to apply for funding and shape improvements to the station environment, following successful community‑led projects already in place at St Albans Abbey including the installation of planters and artwork.

The Partnership also run “Try-The-Train” sessions, designed to help groups whose members may find rail travel challenging — including disabled people, neurodiverse people and older residents — by offering supported practice journeys.

Speaking after the visit, Daisy Cooper said:

“The Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership is powered by community spirit, and there are brilliant opportunities here for local groups to get involved.

“Whether by applying to adopt Bricket Wood station and drive forward community-led improvements, or taking part in ‘Try-The-Train’ sessions that build confidence for people who need a little extra support, these initiatives make a real difference.

“I’d encourage any community group — large or small — to get involved with these important initiatives.”

Daisy thanked the team for their warm welcome and praised the Partnership’s commitment to making stations vibrant, inclusive community spaces.

From left to right: Kate Swindells (Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership Officer), Cllr Steve Cavinder (Chair of the Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership), Val Male (Principal Rail Officer at Hertfordshire County Council), Daisy Cooper MP and Marc Davis (Senior Conductor at London North Western Railway).

Viewing the newly installed artwork at the St Albans Abbey Line station.

Visiting the Tea Room at Bricket Wood station with Cheryl Clark, who runs the tea room.

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This concerning revelation was made during a meeting Daisy held with Thameslink and Network Rail bosses in Parliament in January 2026, as part of her long-standing work pressing them to improve train services for St Albans residents.

The pressures in question are set to result from the expansion of Luton airport, the construction of a new Universal Studios theme park in Bedford, the Strategic Rail Freight Interchange in Park Street, St Albans, alongside a number of new big local housing developments which will need to be delivered to meet the government’s bigger housing targets.

Taken together, this will significantly raise demand on the line, so Daisy has challenged Thameslink and Network Rail on how they plan to cope with this.

The former Conservative government neglected the opportunity to address this pending capacity crisis by sitting on fully costed plans to increase capacity and improve reliability on the line for more than two years.¹

However, Network Rail and Thameslink have assured Daisy that they are currently drawing up new plans to expand capacity – through changes to the timetable, using more of the longer 12-carriage trains and infrastructure improvements in the Croydon area – which will be submitted to the government by this summer.

These plans will require significant government investment if they are to be delivered and Daisy has pledged to campaign for that investment with urgency. She said:

“The Labour government must not make the same mistake as the Conservatives, and sit by whilst pressures mount on our Thameslink services.

“Following their decisions to give Luton airport expansion the go-ahead and impose flawed top-down housing targets, the government must act ahead of this pending deadline, to ensure St Albans residents can access the train services they need.

“Once a proposal to increase capacity has been submitted, I’ll be doing all I can to ensure the government funds it.

“I’ll be writing to all MPs up and down the Bedford to Brighton line asking them to join me in this fight to expand Thameslink capacity, before it’s too late.”

¹Source: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/our-work/our-routes/sussex/brighton-main-line-upgrade-proposals/

Daisy meeting with Network Rail and Thameslink bosses in Parliament, in January 2026.

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Awarded to an MP from outside the two largest parties, the award celebrates Daisy’s long-standing work advocating for the rights of women and under-represented communities, including LGBT+ rights, and pushing for better representation of the voices of people from all backgrounds and communities in Parliament.

Daisy said:

“Politics is for everyone, and it’s absolutely vital that the voices of people from all backgrounds are represented in our public and political debate. 

“When trust in politics is low, I feel it’s important for all of us in positions of power to show that politics can be a force for good.   

“Whether it’s chatting to children and young people in schools or meeting different community groups, I’m always keen to show that – away from the headlines – politics can and does make a real difference to people’s lives and that people of all ages and all backgrounds can get involved. 

“The Patchwork Foundation is a highly respected organisation and I’m delighted to win one of their MP of the Year Awards in recognition of my work.” 

The Patchwork Foundation works to support young people from underrepresented backgrounds to get involved in politics, through activities including internship programmes and a Masterclass Programme, which gives young people opportunities to directly engage with people within the political sphere.

Their MP awards take place annually, and recognise MPs who have supported this work, and championed groups and communities who are underrepresented within British politics.

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The Save Our Children’s Rights group, whose campaign is supported by Daisy, are urging the government to protect the current legal rights that children with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) have to tailored support, in their upcoming Schools White Paper detailing proposed reforms in this area.

This follows recent reports that the government is considering restricting eligibility for EHCPs (Education, Health and Care Plans), which give children with SEND legal entitlements to any necessary educational support.

The group, along with Daisy and other Liberal Democrat MPs, convened at Downing Street to present a petition signed by 132,789 people.

Beforehand, the campaigners, Daisy, and a number of her Liberal Democrat colleagues visited the Department for Education, to make their calls known to the government.

Daisy said:

“Across our local area and beyond, children with SEND and their families have been waiting far too long for a SEND system than works.

“In their upcoming White Paper, it’s vital that the government brings urgent improvements, rather than restricting access to support further by removing current legal rights to it.

“We need real improvements, driven by the changes children and their families are calling for, not further barriers to stop people getting the support they need to thrive.”

Daisy also spoke in support of this petition when it was debated in Parliament in September 2025, saying:

“These top-down reforms are taking up valuable political oxygen among the political leadership and the senior leadership team at the council, taking them away from helping families. The drip-feeding of information on the changes the Government are considering is causing enormous anxiety, too. Children, parents, carers and teachers cannot wait any more. As many other hon. Members have said, they are at breaking point. Please, we need action.”

This continues Daisy’s long-standing campaign on improving access to SEND support locally and nationwide, including through her calls for fairer funding for Hertfordshire, which currently loses out significantly compared to neighbouring counties.

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