779 patients in Chesterfield have faced waits of half-an-hour or more in ambulances outside A&E so far this winter, Liberal Democrat analysis has revealed. Of these, 139 faced waits of over an hour.

In the week to 31st December, 95 patients faced waits of over half an hour and 8 spent at least an hour waiting in ambulances outside A&E.

Analysis also shows that local hospitals are suffering from dangerously high bed occupancy rates. Chesterfield Royal Hospital trust has been at least 95% full for 11 of 42 days so far this winter.

Police in Derbyshire are facing a real-terms cut of £1.9m next year, the Liberal Democrats have revealed.

Today the government announced that core funding for police budgets will remain exactly the same as last year.

Taking into account inflation, that means Derbyshire Constabulary will fall by a real-terms cut of £1.9m.

A report by housing charity Crisis is forecasting a 76% rise in rough sleeping unless action is taken..

Lib Dem Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Wera Hobhouse MP has called for urgent action:

"In 2017 no-one should be homeless, living in a bed and breakfast or worrying whether they will have a roof over their head from one month to the next. This is a national scandal which the government are failing to tackle, so it will only get worse.

Pride is a colourful, energetic celebration of freedom, love and acceptance. Each year I am amazed as thousands of people of all sexualities take to the streets in the name of freedom and equality.

I am proud to stand with the LGBT community in the continuous fight for a more open, tolerant and united society.

This follows the Liberal Democrats leading calls to increase pay for firefighters, nurses and police in the wake of the Grenfell Tragedy and recent terrorist attacks.

The party has also urged Labour MPs to back amendments calling on the government to keep Britain in the single market and customs union, warning that an extreme Brexit would mean the country cannot afford to invest more in public services.

Letting agents fees look set to be banned in this year Queen's Speech following pressure from the Liberal Democrats.

The fees cost on average £223 per tenancy but under the new plans they will be banned and tenants will be given the opportunity to recover illegal fees imposed upon them.

Lib Dem peer Olly Grender, who has led a campaign against the fees, said: "I am absolutely delighted that the ban on letting fees set out in my Private Members' Bill is now being proposed as law.

Jo Swinson has been elected unanimously as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats.

The result was announced on Tuesday evening at the Liberal Democrat parliamentary party meeting.

Jo will continue in her role as Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary.

Jo said: "I am very proud to have been elected by a newly energised and strengthened parliamentary party.

On Friday, it will be one year since the appalling, hate-filled murder Labour MP Jo Cox.

Her friends and family don't want it to be a mournful occasion. Jo was a passionate campaigner, and inspired by her, they want us to channel our horror and grief into something positive.

So, they're spending the weekend celebrating what we have in common, and they've asked us to join them. It's called The Great Get Together, and it's a very simple idea: they're asking you to do something -- big or small -- to bring our communities together on 16 - 18 June. Will you join in?