What has the EU ever done for me?

Fact checks about reported levels of EU funding, budget controls, laws and freedoms

27 February 2020

The European Community supported Britain during the Falklands War

During the Falklands War, the European Community banned all weapons sales to, and imports from, Argentina.

Read more…

aetd46_falklands_27_feb_2020.jpg
1 November 2019

UK workers’ rights: what are the rules on sick pay, maternity and annual leave?

Most of the numbers in a viral post about UK and EU workers’ rights are correct, but could benefit from some more context.

Read more…

e5mkrb.jpg
21 August 2019

Did “our boys” change the handball rule?

Ian Holloway was wrong to suggest that non-British organisations had changed the VAR and handball rules against the will of British football organisations.

Read more…

p0hta1-edit_2.jpg
28 February 2019

UK taxpayers aren’t subsidising France’s 35-hour working week

The EU budget is not spent on subsidising the French or German working week, or transport and utilities systems.

Read more…

france-35-hour-week.jpg
27 February 2019

Does the government subsidise grouse shooting?

Grouse moorland is eligible for agricultural subsidy, provided it is kept in a fit state for grazing. We don’t know how much subsidy grouse moors receive in total.

Read more…

e45jtk-edit.jpg
31 August 2018

This claim about the UK's EU contribution is correct, but meaningless

Since 2000 the UK has made a net contribution to the EU of £122 billion in today’s money.

Read more…

c8pgym-edit.jpg
13 July 2018

The UK is one of the biggest contributors to the EU budget

The UK has been the third or fourth largest contributing country to the EU budget in recent years, and of the 28 member states is one of 10 to contribute more than it gets back in receipts.

Read more…

eu-budget-contribs.jpg
10 July 2018

Do EU rules prevent safer lorries?

Lorry design specifications are set by the EU, but the UK initially opposed its plans to allow safer lorries on the road.

Read more…

eu-lorry-regs.jpg
25 November 2016

EU research funding

The loss of EU research funding is a worry for many academics.

Read more…

eu-research.jpg
7 October 2016

Tax: evasion and avoidance in the UK

In 2013-14, HMRC estimate that they lost about £2.7 billion through tax avoidance and £4.4 billion through tax evasion—so about £7.1 billion overall.

Read more…

by296b.jpg

Full Fact fights bad information

Bad information ruins lives. It promotes hate, damages people’s health, and hurts democracy. You deserve better.