Within her statement, the Secretary of State confirmed that this decision is “in light of legal advice” received, and that May 2027 local elections will take place on existing council boundaries (of St Albans District Council) rather than new unitary council boundaries, as anticipated up to this point.

Daisy Cooper, MP for St Albans, said:

“Local government reorganisation has been a shambles from start to finish.

“Taxpayer money has been wasted preparing for a change that won’t now go ahead as planned, and the time and energy of councillors and officers have been needlessly distracted by a top-down re-organisation away from the delivery of local services, like SEND and social care.

“But even if reorganisation has been paused, devolution must not be. Whether or not the government creates the role of a Hertfordshire Mayor, Hertfordshire must not miss out on being given the same powers as other parts of the country – our county council must be given these powers now.”

The post Daisy slams Labour’s Local Government Reorganisation disarray and renews calls for new powers without delay appeared first on Daisy Cooper.

This comes after new figures from the Home Office, analysed by the Liberal Democrats, revealed that out of the whopping 2042 vehicle thefts that took place in Hertfordshire in 2025, just 1.91% cases resulted in the suspect being charged. In 77% cases the police failed to even identify a suspect.

The Liberal Democrats have blasted the Government for failing to get a grip on the issue, and have said only by properly restoring community policing in Hertfordshire will officers have the time and resources to respond to reports of theft. More visible police would also deter would-be thieves from brazenly taking people’s vehicles in plain sight.

Victoria, Daisy and their Liberal Democrat colleagues have also called for the formation of a specialist team based at the National Crime Agency. It would pool data from automatic number plate recognition cameras, insurance records and intelligence from police forces and border control to target organised car crime networks.

Liberal Democrat MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, Victoria Collins, said: 

“Across my constituency, people rely on their cars to get to work, take their kids to school and get themselves to the doctors and essential services. Local businesses have been hit, and even shut down, because of van thefts. It is an absolute scandal that 77% victims of crime are having their vehicles snatched from them, while the criminals get away scot free. 

“How on earth can we expect to deter would-be thieves from stealing people’s cars when so few offenders are actually being brought to justice? I’m hearing from more and more residents who have fallen victim to car theft, yet the Government seems to be asleep at the wheel.

“Criminals are growing bolder because they don’t fear the consequences, and it’s hardworking residents who are paying the price. We urgently need to restore community policing to tackle car theft. For too long, the police have been left overstretched and underfunded, meaning they simply do not have the resources to respond.”

Daisy Cooper, Liberal Democrat MP for St Albans, said:

“These figures are a shocking testament to the scale of this crime, and the uphill battle facing our local police force in tracking down these criminals.

“Just last year I joined Hertfordshire Police on a proactive patrol in Hill End, sharing information with residents on how to guard against car thefts and burglaries. I know this is an issue that’s been firmly on their radar for a long time, despite limits on their resources.

“The government must finally take this issue seriously by restoring community policing and backing Lib Dem calls for a new specialist team to tackle the organised crime gangs behind these crimes.”

Daisy with officers from Hertfordshire Constabulary, ahead of their patrol to discuss car thefts with St Albans residents (in September 2025).

The post MPs call for a crack down on car thefts, as only 1.91% of car thieves charged in Hertfordshire appeared first on Daisy Cooper.

• Improved security of the bike storage facility, including a “raptor” to stop thieves climbing over, after Daisy repeatedly pressed Thameslink to act.

• A government policy change to ensure CCTV on the rail network can be accessed by all relevant police forces to investigate bike thefts. This follows Daisy’s long-standing campaign for the government to make this change, including by proposing an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, asking parliamentary questions and writing to Ministers.

• British Transport Police scrapping their policy of only investigating thefts of bikes left out for under 2 hours or worth over £200, following national Liberal Democrat campaigning for tough action on bike thefts.

Daisy said:

“The message in St Albans is now clear: if you’re thinking of getting involved in a bike theft, get on your bike!

“The previous approach to investigating bike thefts was completely nonsensical: the secure bike storage area at St Albans City station was anything but, and disjointed CCTV networks were leaving police unable to access CCTV on the railway network to investigate incidents.

“After years of campaigning for action by Thameslink, British Transport Police, local police and Ministers, I’m so pleased that these security improvements and changes have finally been introduced. I will keep a very close eye on bike theft statistics to make sure that these changes translate into reality and that bike thieves know they can no longer get away with it.”

Daisy at the bike storage facility at St Albans City station with representatives from St Albans Police, Thameslink, and British Transport Police, in December 2024.

The post “If you’re thinking of getting involved in a bike theft, get on your bike!”: Daisy’s breakthrough in tackling St Albans bike thefts appeared first on Daisy Cooper.

Under this plan for an Essential Energy Guarantee, every household would receive a basic energy allowance – equivalent to 50% of average energy consumption – at a discounted rate. This would ensure that everyone could afford everyday essential energy needs like heating, lighting, and running medical equipment. 

This intervention would save the average household £100 a year, while the poorest 20% would save an average of £140.

Families would receive extra allowances for children, and the most vulnerable – such as people with disabilities or on the lowest incomes would receive the discounted rate on all their energy use.

According to House of Commons data, 7.2% of St Albans households are in fuel poverty, struggling to afford their most basic energy needs.

The scheme will be funded by clawing back £5 billion in unexpected windfall profits from monopoly energy network operators.

Daisy said:

“Energy is not a luxury, it’s a basic human need.

“Yet huge numbers of people, in St Albans and across the country, are struggling to pay their energy bills whilst energy companies are raking in billions in unexpected profits – all thanks to a loophole in their contracts with Ofgem.

“This must change, and we Lib Dems have put forward a plan to do this: to slash energy bills by clawing back these profits, ensure everyone can cover their basic energy needs, and give families the long-term energy security they need.

“With Trump’s idiotic war in Iran continuing to hike up fuel costs, it’s more important than ever that the government adopt our plan and give everyone the peace of mind that they can afford their essential energy.”

This is the newest part of a package of common sense policies put forward by the Liberal Democrats: ensuring all new homes are zero carbon, a new home insulation upgrade programme, breaking the link between electricity and gas prices, and removing the renewables obligation levy from bills. Overall, the party’s plans would halve energy bills for families in the next decade. 

The post MP launches new Lib Dem plan to slash energy bills in St Albans appeared first on Daisy Cooper.

In response to Daisy’s most recent parliamentary question on this issue, the government confirmed that seven new driving examiners have now completed training and are conducting tests at centres serving St Albans, with a further two examiners due to begin training and eight more job offers made following recent recruitment campaigns.

The figures also reveal that, as of 11 May 2026, there are now hundreds of driving test slots available across the Borehamwood, St Albans and Watford test centres within the 24-week booking window.

The DVSA also confirmed that between June 2025 and April 2026, an additional 144 practical driving tests were carried out through overtime arrangements compared with the previous year.

Daisy said:

“For far too long, learner drivers in St Albans have faced completely unacceptable waits to book a driving test. I know from supporting constituents that it’s caused huge frustration for young people, workers and families.

“I have repeatedly raised this issue in Parliament and pressed ministers to increase examiner numbers and expand test availability, so I am pleased that we are now seeing some progress.

“The recruitment of additional driving examiners and the increase in overtime tests is welcome news and should help reduce the backlog facing local learners.

“However, there is still more work to do. Waiting times remain too long, and I will continue pushing the Government and DVSA until residents can access driving tests quickly and fairly.”

This parliamentary question continues years of Daisy holding the government to account on improving access to driving tests in St Albans. She first raised this in September 2021 and has continued to challenge the successive governments, questioning them on recruitment of new driving examiners and action to address tests being booked by automated bots and re-sold at inflated prices.

The post MP welcomes increase in driving test availability after sustained pressure on government appeared first on Daisy Cooper.

Daisy exposed the scale of the scandal almost four years ago, when her questions to the then Conservative government in October 2022, revealed that this government-imposed cap led to council taxpayers in St Albans district subsiding developers by £3.2 million in 2020-21 alone.

Since then, Daisy has tabled questions, an amendment and legislation to end this scandal, by giving local authorities the power to set their own planning fees to ensure they cover the costs of determining planning applications.

The Conservative government failed to act, but following sustained pressure by Daisy the current Labour government confirmed in March 2025 that it would scrap the cap and is now consulting on the new fee levels.

Since then, Daisy has continued to press the government to implement the change without delay, including in a meeting with the Local Government Minister earlier this year.

In response to Daisy’s most recent questioning, the government has now confirmed that they intend to finally scrap the cap later this year. 

With a timeframe now confirmed, Daisy is on the cusp of securing a major change in the law. She said:

“I’m delighted that after years of campaigning, I’m just a whisker away from ensuring the government-imposed cap on planning fees is scrapped once and for all ending the scandal of local tax-payers subsidising big developers. 

“And what’s more, the change in the law will be a win-win: tax-payers won’t have to subsidise developers anymore, and a properly funded planning team will mean that developers should get more timely decisions. 

“It’s only right and fair that developers pay the necessary fees to cover any applications they make, rather than taxpayers being left out of pocket. 

“I’m glad that this government has seen sense – this change cannot come soon enough.”

Paul de Kort, Leader of St Albans District Council, said:

“It’s fantastic news that the government is finally working to end this nonsensical cap which results in council taxpayers like ours being forced to subsidise big developers.

“Council funding is already under enormous strain from years of government cuts, and now we have the additional costs imposed on us to carry out local government reorganisation.

“I’m relieved that the government has seen sense and committed to giving councils like ours the power to set our own planning fees, so we can ensure developers are paying their fair share.”

The post MP a “whisker away” from winning campaign to end scandal of St Albans taxpayers subsiding big developers by £3 million a year appeared first on Daisy Cooper.

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.”

The post Daisy Cooper MP hails a “major breakthrough for women’s safety” as her campaign to root out sexual offenders in the NHS is “finally” taken up by government appeared first on Daisy Cooper.

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.

The post MP features in list celebrating achievements of Westminster’s 100 leading women appeared first on Daisy Cooper.

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.

The post MP tables new law to protect green spaces on the Verulam Estate appeared first on Daisy Cooper.

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.

The post MP calls for £90m investment in new inpatient mental health beds in Hertfordshire “which would pay for itself from day one” appeared first on Daisy Cooper.