Debt and deficit
Fact checks related to policies of austerity and public and national debt
The deficit is lower than it was 12 years ago
Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said in a speech that the Conservative government had not got the deficit down during 12 years in power. This isn’t true.
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More older people have financial debt—but fewer are actually struggling
An article in the Express used accurate figures from Labour showing more pensioners are in debt, but that doesn’t mean that more pensioners have a debt problem.
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This is what we know about the government loan to pay slave owners compensation after slavery was abolished in 1833
This amounted to £20 million, or 40% of government spending that year.
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What has happened to the debt and deficit now and under previous governments?
This article is part of our Ask Full Fact series on the 2019 general election, answering your questions about the election, from claims the main parties are making to what …
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This quote attributed to Boris Johnson is not real
Boris Johnson did not say "we have wiped out the national debt". He did say the Conservatives had tackled the debt and deficit.
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What is the UK’s public debt?
In May 2010, when the Conservative-led coalition came to power, the national debt was £1.03 trillion. As of March 2019 it had risen to £1.80 trillion.
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BBC Question Time: Recap and Factcheck
Question Time on 1 November came from Clacton-on-Sea. Topics covered included income tax changes, austerity, early elections, policing priorities, and the impact of the investigation into Arron Banks.
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BBC Question Time: Recap and Factcheck
Question Time on 25 October 2018 came from Barrow-in-Furness. Topics covered included Brexit, austerity, Trident and non-disclosure agreements.
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Economy introductions: the size of government debt
The government owes £1.7 trillion. That’s the size of public sector net debt, or the national debt. It’s different to the government deficit.
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Economy introductions: the size of the government deficit
Everything you need to know about the UK's budget deficit.
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