Claims checked
Things people commonly say, checked against the official series already on this site. Each page states the claim, answers it in a sentence, then shows the working — every figure tied to a named period, with live charts of every series used. Verdicts are about what the data shows, never about who said it.
“Crime is rising”
Not what the data shows · checked 4 September 2026
The Crime Survey put headline crime at 4.3 million incidents in the year ending March 2026 — down on the year and less than a quarter of its 1995 peak — though adding fraud roughly doubles the total and fraud is not falling.
“Immigration is at record levels”
Not what the data shows · checked 4 September 2026
The record was 2023 — net migration peaked at 944,000 in the year ending March 2023 and was 171,000 in 2025, though arrivals remain high by any pre-2021 standard.
“People are getting poorer”
Depends which measure you use · checked 4 September 2026
Real average pay is at a record high — but it took fifteen years to regain its 2008 level, and real household disposable income has slipped since late 2024.
“Taxes are at record levels”
Depends which measure you use · checked 4 September 2026
Government receipts took 40.1% of GDP in the year ending March 2026 — the highest share since 1982-83, but below the post-war peak of 42.8% in 1950-51.
“The prisons are full”
Supported by the data · checked 4 September 2026
In the week beginning 24 August 2026 the prison population of England and Wales was 86,843 against a useable operational capacity of 88,937 — 97.6% full, with 2,094 places to spare.