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Full Fact is the UK's independent fact checking organisation
Full Fact
7 days ago

Around 6.5 million patients in England on hospital waiting lists

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves seems to have mistaken the number of treatments waiting to begin with the number of individuals awaiting treatment.
Around 6.5 million patients in England on hospital waiting lists
Full Fact
18 days ago

Smoking causes about one in four deaths from cancer

Steve Barclay confused smoking’s share of cancer deaths with its share of cancer cases, in comments on the BBC and Sky.
Smoking causes about one in four deaths from cancer
Full Fact
18 days ago

Prime Minister wrong to say UK’s debt ‘is falling’

The latest data for both of the main measures of the UK’s national debt shows it has increased over the last year.
Prime Minister wrong to say UK’s debt ‘is falling’
Full Fact
24 days ago

‘Get Covid and live longer’? Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp at Covid Inquiry fact checked

Most people dying of Covid in 2020 were over 80—but they also generally had years of life left.
‘Get Covid and live longer’? Boris Johnson’s WhatsApp at Covid Inquiry fact checked
Full Fact
1 month ago

Video of Rishi Sunak’s first year achievements fact checked

We’ve taken a look at some of the highlights listed in a video marking Rishi Sunak’s first year as Prime Minister.
Video of Rishi Sunak’s first year achievements fact checked
Full Fact
1 month ago

Government data doesn’t show 125,000 children ‘never going’ to school

The figure, which appeared in a column published in The Times, seems to be based on government data showing the number of children who missed at least half their school sessions last autumn term.
Government data doesn’t show 125,000 children ‘never going’ to school
Full Fact
2 months ago

UK tap water among safest in the world

A social media post with over 100,000 shares claims tap water is “the most underrated cause of disease”—but tap water in the UK is strictly regulated to keep it safe.
UK tap water among safest in the world
Full Fact
2 months ago

The number of prison escapes has been falling since the 1990s

We looked into the figures after the PM claimed prison escapes were 10 times higher under the last Labour government.
The number of prison escapes has been falling since the 1990s
Full Fact
2 months ago

NHS in England not paying out £8 billion a year in maternity negligence compensation

A Times column claimed the NHS in England paid more than double its £3 billion maternity budget in maternity clinical negligence payments. But last year these payments totalled just £1.1 billion.
NHS in England not paying out £8 billion a year in maternity negligence compensation
Full Fact
3 months ago

Missing children, lost dogs and escaped snakes: how hoax posts are swamping local Facebook groups

Our investigation reveals over 100 communities across the UK have been the victim of hoaxes, and uncovers why they’re happening.
Missing children, lost dogs and escaped snakes: how hoax posts are swamping local Facebook groups
Full Fact
3 months ago

The EG.5 variant of Covid-19 has nothing to do with 5G

Videos from a popular Instagram influencer wrongly suggest that the 5G network is somehow causing disease associated with the new Covid variant.
The EG.5 variant of Covid-19 has nothing to do with 5G
Full Fact
3 months ago

People in the UK illegally cannot apply for council housing

A Facebook post has suggested that council houses are readily available for people who are in the UK illegally, but this is not true. People in the UK illegally can't apply for council housing.
People in the UK illegally cannot apply for council housing
Full Fact
3 months ago

How many people have been intercepted while attempting to cross the Channel in small boats?

Oliver Dowden’s claim that there had been a 40% increase in interceptions in the Channel refers to the number of people prevented from crossing in small boats in 2022, compared to 2021.
How many people have been intercepted while attempting to cross the Channel in small boats?
Full Fact
3 months ago

Paying TV licence fee isn’t based on ‘consent’

A post claiming there is no law that requires a person to pay a TV licence has been shared more than 11,000 times.
Paying TV licence fee isn’t based on ‘consent’
Full Fact
3 months ago

A very small share of malnutrition cases in hospital are in children

Articles in the Sun said that about a third of 11,000 malnutrition cases in England involved children. The actual share is about 3%.
A very small share of malnutrition cases in hospital are in children
Full Fact
3 months ago

Tesco carrots were not grown ‘in Chernobyl’

A photo appearing to show this has been edited.
Tesco carrots were not grown ‘in Chernobyl’
Full Fact
3 months ago

Minister wrong to claim UK is only European country not using scientific age assessments for asylum ...

Most European countries do use scientific methods to determine the ages of asylum seekers. But the UK and at least two others—Ireland and Serbia—do not.
Minister wrong to claim UK is only European country not using scientific age assessments for asylum seekers
Full Fact
3 months ago

Picture of Rishi Sunak’s bad pint has been Photoshopped

The image has been edited to change the drink he’s holding and the eyes of the person standing behind him.
Picture of Rishi Sunak’s bad pint has been Photoshopped
Full Fact
3 months ago

Appeal for missing ‘Justin Smith’ is a hoax

The child in the picture was actually reported missing in New York state last month, and has since been located.
Appeal for missing ‘Justin Smith’ is a hoax
Full Fact
3 months ago

Experts advise pouring cool water on an overheating dog

Facebook posts shared by thousands of people incorrectly claim you should never throw cold water on an overheating dog.
Experts advise pouring cool water on an overheating dog
Full Fact
3 months ago

Most international students enrolling in UK universities have to prove they’re proficient in English...

Reform UK politician Alex Phillips claimed international students don’t have to pass an English proficiency test, but many are required to take one.
Most international students enrolling in UK universities have to prove they’re proficient in English
Full Fact
4 months ago

NHS consultants are not demanding a 35% pay rise

There’s been widespread confusion in the media about the demands made by striking senior doctors. Their union has confirmed that they are campaigning for an above inflation uplift, but not necessarily
NHS consultants are not demanding a 35% pay rise
Full Fact
4 months ago

The UK government is not building a multimillion pound railway line in Turkey

A tweet shared by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham fails to make clear that this figure refers to a loan being underwritten by the UK government.
The UK government is not building a multimillion pound railway line in Turkey
Full Fact
4 months ago

The UK’s tax revenue isn’t £40 billion less than it used to be “because of Brexit”.

A now-corrected article in The Guardian fails to make clear that a figure estimating the impact of Brexit on UK tax revenues is based on a counterfactual analysis.
The UK’s tax revenue isn’t £40 billion less than it used to be “because of Brexit”.
Full Fact
4 months ago

Most renters do not live in buy-to-let properties

When the total number of renters is considered, only one third of rental properties have been purchased with this type of mortgage.
Most renters do not live in buy-to-let properties
Full Fact
4 months ago

No clear evidence of a significant fall in average waiting times

The health minister Maria Caulfield said that NHS England waiting times were falling “drastically”. The latest data does not support this.
No clear evidence of a significant fall in average waiting times
Full Fact
4 months ago

Are community diagnostic centres ‘cutting’ NHS waiting lists?

Diagnostic and treatment waiting lists have both grown, but the government says they’d be even longer without the additional checks and scans delivered by CDCs.
Are community diagnostic centres ‘cutting’ NHS waiting lists?
Full Fact
5 months ago

Sugar-free alkaline diets won’t ‘starve’ cancer

A video on social media claims that avoiding refined sugar and eating an ‘alkaline’ diet will have an anti-cancer effect. This isn’t supported by the evidence.
Sugar-free alkaline diets won’t ‘starve’ cancer
Full Fact
5 months ago

The overall NHS waiting list continues to rise

Rishi Sunak says the government’s “cutting waiting lists”. That’s true in the case of some specific NHS waiting lists, but not for the main list overall.
The overall NHS waiting list continues to rise
Full Fact
5 months ago

England has fewer teachers relative to the number of school pupils than in 2010

The government’s announcement that there are a record number of teachers is missing important context.
England has fewer teachers relative to the number of school pupils than in 2010
Full Fact
5 months ago

NHS dentist statistics don’t support PM’s claim that there are over 500 more ‘this year’

Rishi Sunak claimed NHS dentist numbers have increased by more than 500 “this year” compared with “last year”—but he appears to have been quoting figures for 2021/22.
NHS dentist statistics don’t support PM’s claim that there are over 500 more ‘this year’
Full Fact
5 months ago

You cannot be sent to prison just for failing to pay your TV licence

The only punishment available is a fine. Failure to pay the fine is a separate offence that can ultimately result in a prison sentence.
You cannot be sent to prison just for failing to pay your TV licence
Full Fact
6 months ago

Can pharmacists prescribe medicines?

The Pharmacy First service will mean people in England can get NHS prescription medicines for some conditions from a community pharmacy without seeing a GP. But some pharmacists can prescribe already.
Can pharmacists prescribe medicines?
Full Fact
6 months ago

Would a 35% pay uplift for junior doctors cost £1 billion or £2 billion?

A Labour MP quoted BMA figures claiming junior doctor “pay restoration” would cost £1 billion, but the health secretary said it would cost £2 billion.
Would a 35% pay uplift for junior doctors cost £1 billion or £2 billion?
Full Fact
6 months ago

Man pictured with caravan has not gone missing in Grimsby

The picture used to show the man has previously been shared online in the US with claims the caravan in it has been stolen.
Man pictured with caravan has not gone missing in Grimsby
Full Fact
7 months ago

How to spot AI-generated images

Full Fact’s guide on how to spot images created using Artificial Intelligence.
How to spot AI-generated images
Full Fact
9 months ago

Vaping harms overstated in viral video

A widely shared video on TikTok and Instagram exaggerates and misrepresents the risks of vaping.
Vaping harms overstated in viral video
Full Fact
10 months ago

Argos £3 AirPod Max deal is fake

A Facebook post claims the deal is related to Argos being fined for not paying tax, which is also not true.
Argos £3 AirPod Max deal is fake