Prime Minister’s Questions fact checked: 4 September 2024
We’ve examined claims from this week’s PMQs about the state of the public finances, support for pensioners, economic growth and more. Read
Fact check
Nasim Asl
Senior Political Journalist
Nasim joined Full Fact in June 2023. Before that she worked on BBC Question Time, and BBC Scotland News. She took part in the BBC’s Journalism Trainee Scheme, and has a masters degree in journalism.
No, ‘illegal immigrants’ don’t receive more benefits than pensioners
Incorrect claims about the amount of benefits received by pensioners and refugees have been circulating for years. Read
Fact check
9.4 million people are classed as economically inactive, not unemployed
A post on Threads claims 9.4 million people in Britain are unemployed, but technically this is the number in the UK who are ‘economically inactive’, not the number who are actively looking for work. Read
Fact check
UK riots fact checked: latest updates and key questions answered
Our explainer tracks the latest developments, fact checks claims circulating online and looks at the government’s response. Read
Analysis
Former prime ministers do not get a £115,000 special ‘pension for life’
But ex-PMs can claim up to £115,000 a year for expenses incurred during their public duties in their capacity as a former prime minister. Read
Fact check
Economy, Business & Finance
Is Labour right to claim the public finances are worse than expected?
The chancellor Rachel Reeves said public finances are facing a shortfall of £21.9 billion this year alone. Read
Fact check
Inflation was not over 10% last autumn
Shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride said in the House of Commons that inflation was over 10% last autumn, but seems to have got the year wrong. Read
Fact check
UK defence spending: explained
A guide to what we currently spend on defence, how that could change in the future and how spending compares historically and internationally. Read
Analysis
No evidence for Facebook quote attributed to politician Thérèse Coffey
An image falsely claiming Dr Coffey said it wasn’t her job to “worry about people starving to death” has been circulating since 2020. Read
Fact check
Economy, Business & Finance
The Labour government’s plans for growth: explained
We take a look at how economic growth is measured in the UK, and the policies the new government has put forward to achieve its “national mission”. Read
Analysis
