Alex Regan
BBC News

Paul McFadden, from Arnold, used Your Questions Answered to ask: "Does the Fixed Term Parliaments Act mean that the next scheduled election will also be in December in five years' time?"

According to the 2011 Fixed Term Parliaments Act (FTPA), a general election must be called five years after the last poll.

So does this mean Christmas shoppers will be carrying around polling cards in 2024?

Image source, PA Media

The short answer is no.

December's election was called using an emergency piece of legislation, but the FTPA states that an election should be called, external on "the first Thursday in May in the fifth calendar year" after the last election.

So the next general election will be scheduled for 2 May, 2024.

The act was introduced by the coalition government in 2011 as part of the agreement drawn up by the Tories and Lib Dems in the wake of the 2010 general election.

So an election can only be triggered before that if a motion of no confidence is passed in the government and no alternative administration can be formed or if at least two-thirds of MPs approved calls for an early election.

Both the Conservatives and Labour have, however, said they will scrap the FTPA.

Previously it was up to the prime minister of the day to choose when to call an election, provided it was within five years of the last one being held.

So although December elections will not become the norm, returning to the old system is likely to mean the next prime minister will be able to call a general election at will.

Alex Regan
BBC News

An East Midlands MEP has resigned from the Brexit Party in order to back the Conservatives and Boris Johnson's Brexit deal.

Annunziata Rees-Mogg - sister of Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg - was elected to the European Parliament in July for the Brexit Party.

She said: "The Conservatives are the only option for Brexit supporters and democrats alike."

Image source, Getty Images

She is one of four MEPs to leave the Brexit-supporting party, alongside London's Lance Forman and two Yorkshire and Humber representatives, Lucy Harris and John Longworth.

Longworth, a former director general of the Chamber of Commerce, was sacked from the party yesterday for "repeatedly undermining" Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage.

Mr Farage said he would not contest 317 seats won by the Tories in the 2017 election, but he has come under fire for fielding candidates in Labour marginal seats, potentially splitting the Leave vote.

In reply, Mr Farage said the Brexit Party had already worked to assist the Tories in securing a majority for exiting the European Union.

"Whilst we are disappointed that four of our MEPs don't seem to understand that we both saved the Conservative party from large scale losses to the Liberal Democrats in the south and south-west of England, but we are also hammering the Labour Leave vote in its traditional heartlands, making it much easier for the Conservatives to win many of those seats," he said.

East Midlands Today

Plans have been approved for a new £18m joint police and fire service headquarters in Nottinghamshire.

The work will involve redeveloping the current Nottinghamshire Police headquarters at Sherwood Lodge, Arnold, with a new base being built for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The proposals include new offices and training facilities and is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

Image source, Nottinghamshire Police

The fire service said it is hoped sharing buildings will "increase efficicency" and allow the services to work closer together.

Gedling Borough Council approved the plans with a condition it was built within three years and with a new access road.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

A 23-year-old man has been charged with rape and sexual assault.

The man appeared at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court yesterday and was remanded in custody, Derbyshire Police said.

The force said they have been investigating a number of reports of sexual assaults in and around the Normanton area of Derby.

Image source, Google

Detective staff investigator Jason Beardsley said: "There may be other victims out there that have not yet had the confidence to talk to us."

The man was charged with one count of raping a woman aged 16 or over and a second count of assaulting a female aged 13 or over by penetration.

He is due to appear at Derby Crown Court on 6 January.

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A 25-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after a woman was hit by a car in Leicester.

The crash happened on Sturdee Road in the Eyres Monsell area on Tuesday.

Image source, Google

The man has also been charged with breaching a restraining order.

He's been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court today.

Samantha Noble
BBC News Online

Police are appealing for help to find Margaret Long, who was reported missing yesterday from Ashbourne.

She is 5ft 6in tall with red wavy hair, is often smartly dressed and is described as someone who walks with a purpose, officers said.

Derbyshire Police believe she may still be in the Ashbourne area.

Image source, Derbyshire Police

BBC Weather Watchers

Sunrise was a real treat this morning and some of our Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Weather Watchers caught it on camera.

These stunning pink skies were in East Bridgford, Stretton and Heanor.

Image source, David e

Image source, Nigel 99

Image source, PeanutWalkers

Nottingham Forest midfielder Ryan Yates signs a new "long-term" deal with the Championship club until 2023.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

It looks like we'll hold on to some sunshine through most of today with things turning a little bit cloudier this afternoon.

We could see the odd patch of rain creep in before the day is over, and temperatures are up to 9C or 10C.

The hungry birds in Kirk Hallam are often seen going door-to-door in their search for a meal.

Jamie Vardy and James Maddison score as Leicester beat bottom-club Watford to go back to second in the Premier League.

Leicester Tigers forward Harry Wells is banned for two weeks after accepting a charge of dangerous play.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, was in Nottingham today as part of his campaign tour.

He paid a visit to the Robin Hood Statue next to Nottingham Castle and said his party will learn from the outlaw, who was a "friend of the poor".

Hundreds of party activists and by-standers watched on from Castle Road.

Speaking to the crowd next to the statue, he said: “Robin Hood had the right idea. He had the right idea. And from Nottingham we learn the lesson.

“He was a friend of the poor, and he wanted a better society. Labour is on the side of the many, and not the few.”

After the speech, Mr Corbyn was asked whether his party’s plans to dramatically increase the amount of state spending were realistic.

He said: “Everything we’re proposing would only take us up to the public service levels of France and Germany when it’s all been achieved."

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage, the Brexit Party leader, was campaigning in Sutton-in-Ashfield.

He was reminded firmly over the counter at Deb’s Diner that in Nottinghamshire people say "cob" not "bap".

His open-topped bus was cheered as it drove into the former mining town's marketplace earlier today.

Jasmine Francis-Smith gave birth after her fertilized egg had been incubated by her wife Donna.

A joint investigation said the fire was probably caused accidentally by "smoking materials".

A disciplinary hearing concludes David Linney would have been sacked if he had not already resigned.

The heavily pregnant woman was struck by a car as she cycled on a road in Leicester.

BBC Radio Derby

A Matlock pub which was flooded last month said it won't now re-open until the end of February next year.

The Crown on Bakewell Road needs a major re-fit after it was flooded following days of heavy rain.

Wetherspoons said it is fitting new carpet, furniture and toilets and using the closure to spruce up other areas too.

"Due to the damage we needed a full internal refurbishment," spokesman Eddie Gershon said.

"We weren't looking to do this....but the situation meant we had to close it."

Trains between Sheffield and London are still being affected this afternoon because of overrunning engineering work.

The work is happening between Sheffield and Chesterfield, affecting services using the Midland Mainline.

Services are expected to continue being delayed and cancelled until about 15:00, National Rail Enquiries has said, external.

Where possible, trains are being diverted, not calling at Dronfield.

Services run by train operator Northern between Nottingham and Leeds and Sheffield and Gainsborough Central are also affected.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Police say they're "extremely concerned" about the welfare of a 19-year-old man who's gone missing in Chesterfield.

Charlie Rolfe is believed to have left a property in Lansdowne Road shortly after 00:00.

Officers were alerted to his disappearance at about 07:20.

They've asked anyone who knows where is to get in touch urgently, external.

Image source, Derbyshire Police