A graphic about what actions have been made by the European Union and the UK, respectively, since negotiations for the UK to leave the EU began on 29 March 2017 has been shared at least 74,000 times on Facebook. The infographic makes twelve separate claims; FactCheckNI has fact checked each of them. We interpret “has” with reference to the date of action delivered, not announced. Continue reading Brexit box viral graphic fact check
Has the DUP brought an extra £1bn?
CLAIM: Arlene Foster, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, said that the party delivered “an extra billion pounds” for Northern Ireland.
CONCLUSION: ACCURATE. The £1bn is specific to the jurisdiction of Northern Ireland and is in addition to funding pledged as a result of the Stormont House Agreement and Fresh Start Agreement. An estimated £420m remains to be spent. Continue reading Has the DUP brought an extra £1bn?
The worst train and bus operators in the UK?
CLAIM: Car insurance company Tempcover issued a press release and associated webpage which claimed to “reveal which public transport operators in the UK are doing the best job of getting Britain from A to B”.
CONCLUSION: INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION. None of the public transport companies listed covered Northern Ireland, so it was a Great Britain-only analysis. Tempcover have now corrected this error on their website. The exclusion of Northern Ireland’s Translink service could have, at most, shifted other operators up or down the list by one position. Continue reading The worst train and bus operators in the UK?
How-to: Google Cache
FactCheckNI How-to:
Google Cache
There are times when we’ve noticed a change in a particular website page and we want to compare it with the most recent version. Or when a website is not loading or is otherwise unavailable. Continue reading How-to: Google Cache
Derry/Londonderry only city without its own university?
CLAIM: Derry/Londonderry is the only city of its prominence in the UK that does not have its own higher education institution, according to Lord Adonis.
CONCLUSION: INACCURATE. There are several other urban areas in the UK that do not have a higher education institution headquartered in their locale (for example Darlington, Southport, Harrogate, Scunthorpe, Crewe and East Kilbride). Continue reading Derry/Londonderry only city without its own university?
Only one UK member of Facebook’s fact-checking programme?
CLAIM: The Guardian claimed that journalism charity Full Fact is “the only UK member of” Facebook’s fact-checking programme.
CONCLUSION: INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION. FactCheckNI is another UK member of Facebook’s third party fact-checking programme. The Guardian promptly corrected its article.
Continue reading Only one UK member of Facebook’s fact-checking programme?