Latest Fact Checks

Articles

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Economy

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Europe

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Topics

Is NI subject to EU fuel VAT rates, which cannot be reduced below 5%? 

17 August 2022

CLAIM: Fuel VAT is currently 20% but, if Westminster reduced this to zero to help with the cost of living, this would not apply in NI. Local fuel VAT is set in Brussels, and EU rules stipulate this cannot be lower than 5%.

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ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

UK VAT is 20% for petrol, diesel and commercial energy use, and 5% for domestic energy Current EU rules apply to NI but not the

Articles

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Elections

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Topics

Do less than 0.03% of the population of Northern Ireland have a vote in the Conservative Party leadership election 2022?

9 August 2022

CLAIM: Less than 0·03% of the population of Northern Ireland has a vote in the Conservative Party leadership election 2022.

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UNSUBSTANTIATED

The Tory Party does not release membership figures The 0.03% figure is based on an estimate of the number of party members in NI While

Articles

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Economy

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Topics

Is Belfast the most lucrative city in the UK for students’ landlords?

27 July 2022

CLAIM: Belfast is the most lucrative city in the UK for landlords of student properties, with a total of £1.8bn in rent collected from students annually.

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INACCURATE

MLA Gerry Carroll made this claim based on a story in the Belfast Telegraph That story was based on a report from insurance firm CIA

Articles

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Economy

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Europe

Is the Belfast-Derry/Londonderry train no quicker than it was during Victorian times?

6 July 2022

CLAIM: The train between Derry/Londonderry and Belfast takes 2 hours and 20 minutes. The journey is 70 miles long, meaning this service travels at the same speed as Victorian-era trains.

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INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

On BBC Radio Ulster’s show Talkback on June 9, during a discussion about the impact of Brexit and EU funding on Northern Ireland, Dr Ben

Articles

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Economy

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Europe

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Explainer

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Law

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Peace

How is the NI Protocol affecting the local cost of living?

21 June 2022

Several claims have been made about devastating effects of the Protocol on the cost of living in NI. Claims such as the Protocol “is adding

Articles

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Environment

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Health

Do 140 people per year die while fishing in Irish waters?

16 June 2022

CLAIM: Approximately 120 to 140 people die while fishing in Ireland.

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INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

On BBC Radio Ulster’s show Good Morning Ulster on June 7, during a discussion about deaths during the Isle of Man TT, former road racer