Fact Check

FACT CHECK

Keir Starmer's child poverty claim was fact checked

15

Fact check: Keir Starmer's SNP child poverty claim

From left: Labour politicians Ed Miliband, Sarah Boyack, Keir Starmer, Anas Sarwar, and Ian Murray on a visit to Peterhead

From left: Labour politicians Ed Miliband, Sarah Boyack, Keir Starmer, Anas Sarwar, and Ian Murray on a visit to Peterhead

6

Will GB Energy really cut bills and create jobs as Labour claim?

Rishi Sunak claimed there is a 'careful' arms licensing system

Rishi Sunak claimed there is a 'careful' arms licensing system

Just how 'careful' is the UK's arms export licensing system, really?

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered the Spring Budget on Wednesday

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered the Spring Budget on Wednesday

Barnett Formula

2

Is there an 'extra £300 million for Scotland' in the Tories' Spring Budget?

The National's fact checker looks at claims that Michael Gove's State of the Union paper has leaked online

The National's fact checker looks at claims that Michael Gove's State of the Union paper has leaked online

Has Michael Gove’s secret ‘State of the Union’ report been leaked online?

First Minister Humza Yousaf with his family outside Bute House

First Minister Humza Yousaf with his family outside Bute House

12

Did the First Minister charge taxpayers for 'house repairs'?

Nicola Sturgeon speaks at a Covid briefing in 2020

Nicola Sturgeon speaks at a Covid briefing in 2020

7

Claim that 'secret' memo showed SNP plot for indyref 'push' during Covid

A number of claims made by senior Tories at the party's conference have been found to be false

A number of claims made by senior Tories at the party's conference have been found to be false

Conservative Party

5

Senior Tories called out by fact checkers after false claims at conference

We fact-checked Penny Mordaunt's claims

We fact-checked Penny Mordaunt's claims

Conservative Party

14

Is Scotland full of Victorian disease and rats like Penny Mordaunt says?

The National fact checks Douglas Ross's decriminalisation claims

The National fact checks Douglas Ross's decriminalisation claims

Conservative Party

6

Douglas Ross says drug decriminalisation is 'ridiculous' – he is wrong

Douglas Ross has faced fierce criticism from the British Medical Association (BMA) after his comments

Douglas Ross has faced fierce criticism from the British Medical Association (BMA) after his comments

3

Have English junior doctors ‘politicised their pay' to oppose the Tory government?

We fact-checked Rishi Sunak's claim

We fact-checked Rishi Sunak's claim

Cost of living crisis

6

Claim that more North Sea oil will 'drive down energy prices'

Orkney is looking to explore alternative forms of governance for the islands

Orkney is looking to explore alternative forms of governance for the islands

3

Is Orkney really looking for independence from the UK and Scotland?

Nicola Sturgeon's SNP government brought in the Scottish Child Payment to tackle poverty

Nicola Sturgeon's SNP government brought in the Scottish Child Payment to tackle poverty

Children & Young People

8

FACT CHECK: Has Nicola Sturgeon 'absolutely' failed Scotland's children?

The claim in The Guardian was that 'on any standard ... Scotland under Sturgeon has not been well run'

The claim in The Guardian was that 'on any standard ... Scotland under Sturgeon has not been well run'

19

FACT CHECK: Claim 'Scotland under Sturgeon has not been well run'

We have fact checked a recent report which suggested independence could cost Scotland more than 250,000 jobs

We have fact checked a recent report which suggested independence could cost Scotland more than 250,000 jobs

11

FACT CHECK: Would Scottish independence really cost us 250,000 jobs?

We fact-checked Oliver Dowden's claims

We fact-checked Oliver Dowden's claims

Conservative Party

Does new Tory strike legislation really bring us into line with Europe?

We Fact Check Robert Jenrick's claim about Scotland's share of asylum seekers

We Fact Check Robert Jenrick's claim about Scotland's share of asylum seekers

5

FACT CHECK: Is Scotland taking in its fair share of asylum seekers?

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has been accused of sharing misleading figures over trade

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has been accused of sharing misleading figures over trade

19

Michael Gove caught out sharing 'misleading' claim over post-Brexit trade deals

Rishi Sunak has been caught in a dodgy stat attack on Scotland over crime rates

Rishi Sunak has been caught in a dodgy stat attack on Scotland over crime rates

Conservative Party

25

FACT CHECK: Rishi Sunak claims Scottish crime on the rise

We've fact-cheacked economist Sir John Kay's claims about Scottish independence

We've fact-cheacked economist Sir John Kay's claims about Scottish independence

6

FACT CHECK: Claim independent Scotland is destined for a currency 'fiasco'

Tourists outside Buckingham Palace. File photo.

Tourists outside Buckingham Palace. File photo.

9

FACT CHECK: Does the monarchy really pay its way?

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have both been hit with fines for breaking the law

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have both been hit with fines for breaking the law

1

Were Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak issued with SIX fines for partygate?

Would Babcock International retreat from Rosyth?

Would Babcock International retreat from Rosyth?

9

FACT CHECK: Babcock's CEO's claim on Scottish independence affecting business

Former Labour minister Jack Straw claimed that the SNP government in Scotland takes 'more money from English taxpayers than English taxpayers get for themselves'

Former Labour minister Jack Straw claimed that the SNP government in Scotland takes 'more money from English taxpayers than English taxpayers get for themselves'

23

FACT CHECK: Jack Straw's claim Scotland 'takes money' from English taxpayers

Guido Fawkes tried to fact check an SNP claim about the prevalence of Covid-19 in England and Scotland - and just embarrassed itself

Guido Fawkes tried to fact check an SNP claim about the prevalence of Covid-19 in England and Scotland - and just embarrassed itself

14

Right-wing blog's SNP 'fact check' gets fact checked - and the result is embarrassing

The Tories claim they have delivered the fastest vaccine rollout in Europe

The Tories claim they have delivered the fastest vaccine rollout in Europe

3

FACT CHECK: Have Tories really delivered best vaccine rollout and economy in G7?

FACT CHECK: Is Scotland immune from sewage in our waterways?

FACT CHECK: Is Scotland immune from sewage in our waterways?

10

FACT CHECK: Is Scotland immune from sewage in our waterways?

Boris Johnson has been claiming that wages are rising

Boris Johnson has been claiming that wages are rising

2

FACT CHECK: Is Boris Johnson right in claiming that wages are rising?

A senior Tory has suggested a Yes vote could be orchestrated by the Kremlin

A senior Tory has suggested a Yes vote could be orchestrated by the Kremlin

Conservative Party

15

FACT CHECK: Claim Scottish independence 'would delight Vladimir Putin'

Is the HGV driver shortage a long-term issue as Andrew Neil suggests? The National's Fact Checking service takes a look

Is the HGV driver shortage a long-term issue as Andrew Neil suggests? The National's Fact Checking service takes a look

3

FACT CHECK: Andrew Neil's Brexit supply chain claims from Question Time

Gordon Brown's Our Scottish Future has released the results of a new survey on the Union, but Northern Ireland was excluded

Gordon Brown's Our Scottish Future has released the results of a new survey on the Union, but Northern Ireland was excluded

9

FACT CHECK: Is England more inclusive than Scotland - as Gordon Brown claims?

Nicola Sturgeon's economic adviser Mark Blyth has hit the headlines

Nicola Sturgeon's economic adviser Mark Blyth has hit the headlines

6

FACT CHECK: Does FM's adviser think independence would be 'worse' than Brexit?

The claim was made on BBC Good Morning Scotland

The claim was made on BBC Good Morning Scotland

12

FACT-CHECK: BBC presenter WRONG to say legal indyref2 powers lie with UK

The National's Fact Check service takes a look at some economic claims by BBC Scotland business and economy editor Douglas Fraser

The National's Fact Check service takes a look at some economic claims by BBC Scotland business and economy editor Douglas Fraser

13

FACT CHECK: BBC reporter's claim about GERS and Scottish independence

Dame Carol Black said safe consumption rooms are not a 'silver bullet' to drug problems

Dame Carol Black said safe consumption rooms are not a 'silver bullet' to drug problems

Conservative Party

4

FACT CHECK: Claim there's 'no evidence' to back up safe consumption rooms

We fact-checked Rishi Sunak's claim that the UK Government has reduced poverty ...

We fact-checked Rishi Sunak's claim that the UK Government has reduced poverty ...

Conservative Party

11

FACT CHECK: Rishi Sunak claim that poverty has reduced under Tory government

We fact checked Boris Johnson's claim that scientists are 'absolutely clear that we have severed the link between infection and serious disease and death'

We fact checked Boris Johnson's claim that scientists are 'absolutely clear that we have severed the link between infection and serious disease and death'

19

FACT CHECK: PM's claim that UK has 'severed' link between Covid infection and death

Gavin Williamson (right) intervened after some Oxford students chose to take down a picture of the Queen which had been hanging since 2013

Gavin Williamson (right) intervened after some Oxford students chose to take down a picture of the Queen which had been hanging since 2013

4

FACT CHECK: What happened with Oxford students and a portrait of the Queen?

An anonymous teacher has claimed that government-backed guidance tells teachers to watch out for Covid radicalisation in schools

An anonymous teacher has claimed that government-backed guidance tells teachers to watch out for Covid radicalisation in schools

FACT CHECK: Are teachers being asked to watch out for fake Covid news in schools?

Scotland in Union chief Pamela Nash has attacked Nicola Sturgeon over council job cuts – but is the real culprit Tory austerity?

Scotland in Union chief Pamela Nash has attacked Nicola Sturgeon over council job cuts – but is the real culprit Tory austerity?

8

FACT CHECK: Scotland in Union claim SNP have cut 22,000 council jobs

Would an independent Scotland have to face austerity to reduce its budget deficit?

Would an independent Scotland have to face austerity to reduce its budget deficit?

9

FACT CHECK: Claim independent Scotland 'would start with large budget deficit'

Douglas Ross's claims about Nicola Sturgeon's spending plans don't quite add up

Douglas Ross's claims about Nicola Sturgeon's spending plans don't quite add up

Conservative Party

5

FACT CHECK: SNP's four-day week plan would cost taxpayers £3bn a year

Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie claimed that Nicola Sturgeon failed to put Barnett consequentials meant for the NHS to their intended use

Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie claimed that Nicola Sturgeon failed to put Barnett consequentials meant for the NHS to their intended use

12

FACT CHECK: Jackie Baillie's claim that money meant for the NHS was used elsewhere

Nicola Sturgeon said the pandemic may have made more Scots think about independence

Nicola Sturgeon said the pandemic may have made more Scots think about independence

10

FACT CHECK: Claim Nicola Sturgeon 'imagined' Scotland handled Covid better

Tories like Douglas Ross are using the big vaccine rollout as a way to hide the huge Covid death rate resulting from the bungles of the Johnson government

Tories like Douglas Ross are using the big vaccine rollout as a way to hide the huge Covid death rate resulting from the bungles of the Johnson government

6

FACT CHECK: Douglas Ross's claim Scotland can thank UK for vaccine success

On Question Time, Claire Fox suggested young people did not widely vote Yes

On Question Time, Claire Fox suggested young people did not widely vote Yes

25

FACT CHECK: Claire Fox's claim about young people's support for independence

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, December 2020.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during a visit to the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, December 2020.

Conservative Party

38

FACT CHECK: Claim Scotland's NHS pay rise is thanks to 'Union dividend'

Violent crime has fallen by two-fifths since the SNP government came to office in 2007

Violent crime has fallen by two-fifths since the SNP government came to office in 2007

Conservative Party

4

FACT CHECK: Has violent crime in Scotland risen under the SNP Government?

Should Joe Biden really be wary of Nicola Sturgeon's calls for independence? Background image: Damian Shields

Should Joe Biden really be wary of Nicola Sturgeon's calls for independence? Background image: Damian Shields

29

FACT CHECK: 'US should oppose Scottish independence due to security threat'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock made some questionable claims at the University of Glasgow Lighthouse Laboratory

Health Secretary Matt Hancock made some questionable claims at the University of Glasgow Lighthouse Laboratory

Conservative Party

20

FACT CHECK: Matt Hancock claims Covid vaccine rollout was 'the same' across UK

On Monday Nicola Sturgeon held a regular, televised media briefing on Covid issues

On Monday Nicola Sturgeon held a regular, televised media briefing on Covid issues

Conservative Party

19

FACT CHECK: Claim Nicola Sturgeon missed four nations Covid call for BBC briefing

Nicola Sturgeon has ordered the Union flag to be replaced by the EU flag, according to claims shared by Tory MSPs

Nicola Sturgeon has ordered the Union flag to be replaced by the EU flag, according to claims shared by Tory MSPs

Conservative Party

30

FACT CHECK: Claim Nicola Sturgeon has ordered Union flag be 'replaced' with EU's

The Scottish Government has succeeded in providing a first dose of Covid vaccine to 99.8 per cent of elderly care home residents

The Scottish Government has succeeded in providing a first dose of Covid vaccine to 99.8 per cent of elderly care home residents

11

FACT CHECK: Claim Scotland has been 'cooking books' on Covid vaccine figures