Steve Nowottny
@stevenowottny.bsky.social
Journalist. Editor of Full Fact. Paid to say ‘Well, actually…’
Tomorrow we’ll be ‘live fact checking’ #Budget2025. It’s the hardest thing we do - so how does it actually work?
Here's a blog I wrote earlier this year explaining the process. (Spoiler alert - it involves many spreadsheets...)
fullfact.org/blog/2025/ap...
Here's a blog I wrote earlier this year explaining the process. (Spoiler alert - it involves many spreadsheets...)
fullfact.org/blog/2025/ap...
Multitasking, AI tools and 22,785 words of preparation: how we ‘live fact check’ – Full Fact
As part of our #FactsMatter campaign, Full Fact editor Steve Nowottny explains how the team fact check live political events in close to real time.
fullfact.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Tomorrow we’ll be ‘live fact checking’ #Budget2025. It’s the hardest thing we do - so how does it actually work?
Here's a blog I wrote earlier this year explaining the process. (Spoiler alert - it involves many spreadsheets...)
fullfact.org/blog/2025/ap...
Here's a blog I wrote earlier this year explaining the process. (Spoiler alert - it involves many spreadsheets...)
fullfact.org/blog/2025/ap...
Punchy final line in this Times story about the Prime Minister doing the ‘6-7’ thing on a school visit…
November 25, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Punchy final line in this Times story about the Prime Minister doing the ‘6-7’ thing on a school visit…
Bad news for anyone who's seen this viral video and is hoping for a boosted DWP Christmas bonus this year - claims that the bonus is jumping from £10 to £200 are entirely bogus.
Our fact check: fullfact.org/economy/dwp-...
Our fact check: fullfact.org/economy/dwp-...
November 24, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Bad news for anyone who's seen this viral video and is hoping for a boosted DWP Christmas bonus this year - claims that the bonus is jumping from £10 to £200 are entirely bogus.
Our fact check: fullfact.org/economy/dwp-...
Our fact check: fullfact.org/economy/dwp-...
A big week ahead in politics - and like many others, the @fullfact.org team are currently in full prep mode for the main event on Wednesday.
Our latest PA Media column looks at exactly what Labour's pledged on income tax. Here it is via the Colchester Gazette
www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/nationa...
Our latest PA Media column looks at exactly what Labour's pledged on income tax. Here it is via the Colchester Gazette
www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/nationa...
Fact check: What has Labour pledged on income tax?
Ahead of next Wednesday’s Budget, Full Fact looks at the detail of Labour’s manifesto commitments.
www.gazette-news.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 8:12 AM
A big week ahead in politics - and like many others, the @fullfact.org team are currently in full prep mode for the main event on Wednesday.
Our latest PA Media column looks at exactly what Labour's pledged on income tax. Here it is via the Colchester Gazette
www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/nationa...
Our latest PA Media column looks at exactly what Labour's pledged on income tax. Here it is via the Colchester Gazette
www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/nationa...
Many claimed this week that revised ONS migration figures show an "exodus" of Britons - with some suggesting Labour's policies are responsible.
But do the stats support those claims? Lots of number-crunching in this new @fullfact.org analysis 👉 fullfact.org/immigration/...
But do the stats support those claims? Lots of number-crunching in this new @fullfact.org analysis 👉 fullfact.org/immigration/...
November 22, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Many claimed this week that revised ONS migration figures show an "exodus" of Britons - with some suggesting Labour's policies are responsible.
But do the stats support those claims? Lots of number-crunching in this new @fullfact.org analysis 👉 fullfact.org/immigration/...
But do the stats support those claims? Lots of number-crunching in this new @fullfact.org analysis 👉 fullfact.org/immigration/...
Lots of speculation ahead of next week's Budget that the government may extend the freeze on income tax thresholds.
But would that be a breach of Labour's manifesto promises? And what exactly has the party pledged on income tax?
Our new explainer 🔍
fullfact.org/economy/labo...
But would that be a breach of Labour's manifesto promises? And what exactly has the party pledged on income tax?
Our new explainer 🔍
fullfact.org/economy/labo...
What has Labour pledged on income tax ahead of the Budget? – Full Fact
Amid reports that Labour may be planning to extend the freeze on income tax thresholds at next week’s Budget, we look at exactly what commitments the party made in its manifesto.
fullfact.org
November 21, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Lots of speculation ahead of next week's Budget that the government may extend the freeze on income tax thresholds.
But would that be a breach of Labour's manifesto promises? And what exactly has the party pledged on income tax?
Our new explainer 🔍
fullfact.org/economy/labo...
But would that be a breach of Labour's manifesto promises? And what exactly has the party pledged on income tax?
Our new explainer 🔍
fullfact.org/economy/labo...
This story really did take an unexpected turn…
It’s the exclusive everyone wanted, the story that will win next year’s Pulitzer…
I can reveal London’s giant AI generated Christmas artwork, the subject of much online mockery, is being torn down - and I honestly *genuinely* think you’ll never guess why. www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
I can reveal London’s giant AI generated Christmas artwork, the subject of much online mockery, is being torn down - and I honestly *genuinely* think you’ll never guess why. www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
London's giant AI artwork to be torn down
The bizarre story of why a much-talked-about creation is being torn down. Plus: Docklands Light Railway extension, giant laser stalks the night sky, and more tales of Android phone theft rejection.
www.londoncentric.media
November 20, 2025 at 7:42 AM
This story really did take an unexpected turn…
Winter is coming…
November 20, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Winter is coming…
This viral video supposedly showing a teacher in the UK telling school children to do Islamic prayers and chant "Allahu Akbar" isn't real, and was almost certainly made using AI. (One clue? She appears to sit on an invisible chair at one point...)
Our fact check: fullfact.org/education/fa...
Our fact check: fullfact.org/education/fa...
November 19, 2025 at 8:02 AM
This viral video supposedly showing a teacher in the UK telling school children to do Islamic prayers and chant "Allahu Akbar" isn't real, and was almost certainly made using AI. (One clue? She appears to sit on an invisible chair at one point...)
Our fact check: fullfact.org/education/fa...
Our fact check: fullfact.org/education/fa...
Thank you for your support!
Bad information ruins lives. I’m standing with @FullFact. From 2 December-9 December your donation will be DOUBLED. Donate here: fullfact.org/biggive #ChristmasChallenge
Double your donation – Full Fact
Your donation will be doubled.
fullfact.org
November 19, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Thank you for your support!
This video supposedly showing Keir Starmer announcing an 11pm curfew next month has had tens of thousands of views on TikTok and Facebook.
So many examples of this sort of video circulating at the moment - and they're being shared at scale...
Our fact check: fullfact.org/politics/11p...
So many examples of this sort of video circulating at the moment - and they're being shared at scale...
Our fact check: fullfact.org/politics/11p...
November 17, 2025 at 5:45 PM
This video supposedly showing Keir Starmer announcing an 11pm curfew next month has had tens of thousands of views on TikTok and Facebook.
So many examples of this sort of video circulating at the moment - and they're being shared at scale...
Our fact check: fullfact.org/politics/11p...
So many examples of this sort of video circulating at the moment - and they're being shared at scale...
Our fact check: fullfact.org/politics/11p...
It’s not every day the Deputy Prime Minister corrects the parliamentary record after a fact check. So this is great to see...
Full details here: fullfact.org/live/2025/no...
Full details here: fullfact.org/live/2025/no...
November 13, 2025 at 9:40 AM
It’s not every day the Deputy Prime Minister corrects the parliamentary record after a fact check. So this is great to see...
Full details here: fullfact.org/live/2025/no...
Full details here: fullfact.org/live/2025/no...
Reposted by Steve Nowottny
At #PMQs Kemi Badenoch claimed unemployment has gone up “every single month” under Labour.
We wrote about this last month and found it isn’t quite true 👇
We wrote about this last month and found it isn’t quite true 👇
Kemi Badenoch’s claims about Labour’s unemployment record aren’t quite right—here’s why – Full Fact
The Conservative leader has repeated two claims about Labour’s record on unemployment, neither of which is quite right.
fullfact.org
November 12, 2025 at 12:49 PM
At #PMQs Kemi Badenoch claimed unemployment has gone up “every single month” under Labour.
We wrote about this last month and found it isn’t quite true 👇
We wrote about this last month and found it isn’t quite true 👇
Reposted by Steve Nowottny
At #PMQs Keir Starmer said the government “delivered five million extra” NHS appointments in its first year of government.
While it’s true there were an extra 5.2m appointments, this is less than the increase in the previous year.
While it’s true there were an extra 5.2m appointments, this is less than the increase in the previous year.
Is the government on course to deliver an extra two million NHS appointments a year? – Full Fact
Full Fact looks at Labour’s pledge to deliver “40,000 more appointments every week” in NHS England, amounting to two million a year.
fullfact.org
November 12, 2025 at 12:32 PM
At #PMQs Keir Starmer said the government “delivered five million extra” NHS appointments in its first year of government.
While it’s true there were an extra 5.2m appointments, this is less than the increase in the previous year.
While it’s true there were an extra 5.2m appointments, this is less than the increase in the previous year.
Papiss Cisse, Danny Drinkwater, Stephen Ireland - meet the Sunday League team packed full of former Premier League footballers.
Great piece here from the Telegraph (£)
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Great piece here from the Telegraph (£)
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
We spent the day with Sunday league team full of former Premier League players
Papiss Cisse showed South Liverpool little mercy in scoring seven goals for Wythenshawe Vets, who can field a team of galacticos every week
www.telegraph.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Papiss Cisse, Danny Drinkwater, Stephen Ireland - meet the Sunday League team packed full of former Premier League footballers.
Great piece here from the Telegraph (£)
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Great piece here from the Telegraph (£)
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/202...
Fake ‘train attack’ imagery and the truth about childhood obesity stats…
Here’s our latest round-up of fact checks for PA Media, as it appeared in the Independent 👇
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Here’s our latest round-up of fact checks for PA Media, as it appeared in the Independent 👇
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Fact check: Fake ‘train attack’ imagery and child obesity stats
Round-up of fact checks from the last week compiled by Full Fact.
www.independent.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Fake ‘train attack’ imagery and the truth about childhood obesity stats…
Here’s our latest round-up of fact checks for PA Media, as it appeared in the Independent 👇
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Here’s our latest round-up of fact checks for PA Media, as it appeared in the Independent 👇
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Fact checking claims from AI tools is an increasingly important part of our work - and today @fullfact.org found Grok and Google Lens AI overviews have been claiming that fake imagery shows the Huntingdon train attack last Saturday.
A short 🧵 (1/4)
A short 🧵 (1/4)
November 5, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Fact checking claims from AI tools is an increasingly important part of our work - and today @fullfact.org found Grok and Google Lens AI overviews have been claiming that fake imagery shows the Huntingdon train attack last Saturday.
A short 🧵 (1/4)
A short 🧵 (1/4)
I'll be honest, when I heard we were fact checking a claim about a "robot dog" which was "patrolling a migrant hotel", I assumed it was the robot dog-bit we were taking issue with...
And yet: fullfact.org/immigration/...
And yet: fullfact.org/immigration/...
November 5, 2025 at 6:49 AM
I'll be honest, when I heard we were fact checking a claim about a "robot dog" which was "patrolling a migrant hotel", I assumed it was the robot dog-bit we were taking issue with...
And yet: fullfact.org/immigration/...
And yet: fullfact.org/immigration/...
Loads of low-grade fake alarmist 'news reports' being shared on TikTok and other social media currently.
Here's another example - videos claiming the government's banning the use of central heating after 9pm.
Entirely untrue, of course - but the videos are getting 10,000s of views.
Here's another example - videos claiming the government's banning the use of central heating after 9pm.
Entirely untrue, of course - but the videos are getting 10,000s of views.
November 1, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Loads of low-grade fake alarmist 'news reports' being shared on TikTok and other social media currently.
Here's another example - videos claiming the government's banning the use of central heating after 9pm.
Entirely untrue, of course - but the videos are getting 10,000s of views.
Here's another example - videos claiming the government's banning the use of central heating after 9pm.
Entirely untrue, of course - but the videos are getting 10,000s of views.
Nope, Hurricane Melissa wasn’t caused by the HAARP research facility, or “generated by the HAARP weather modification weapon”.
Our fact check: fullfact.org/environment/...
Our fact check: fullfact.org/environment/...
October 31, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Nope, Hurricane Melissa wasn’t caused by the HAARP research facility, or “generated by the HAARP weather modification weapon”.
Our fact check: fullfact.org/environment/...
Our fact check: fullfact.org/environment/...
"Somewhat improbably, the person whose stolen phone had randomly come into our possession was a London Centric reader."
Great story from @jim.londoncentric.media and @londoncentric.media - on how thieves are burying stolen mobiles in London's flowerbeds...
www.londoncentric.media/p/london-pho...
Great story from @jim.londoncentric.media and @londoncentric.media - on how thieves are burying stolen mobiles in London's flowerbeds...
www.londoncentric.media/p/london-pho...
London's thieves are burying phones in flowerbeds
The police don't take much interest in returning the stolen devices when they're dug up — so London Centric decided to do it.
www.londoncentric.media
October 30, 2025 at 6:31 PM
"Somewhat improbably, the person whose stolen phone had randomly come into our possession was a London Centric reader."
Great story from @jim.londoncentric.media and @londoncentric.media - on how thieves are burying stolen mobiles in London's flowerbeds...
www.londoncentric.media/p/london-pho...
Great story from @jim.londoncentric.media and @londoncentric.media - on how thieves are burying stolen mobiles in London's flowerbeds...
www.londoncentric.media/p/london-pho...
No, this dramatic video circulating on social media with claims it shows the eye of Hurricane Melissa filmed from a plane flying above isn't legit - it's AI-generated.
Our fact check (which has a link to genuine footage filmed by storm hunters): fullfact.org/environment/...
Our fact check (which has a link to genuine footage filmed by storm hunters): fullfact.org/environment/...
October 30, 2025 at 8:28 AM
No, this dramatic video circulating on social media with claims it shows the eye of Hurricane Melissa filmed from a plane flying above isn't legit - it's AI-generated.
Our fact check (which has a link to genuine footage filmed by storm hunters): fullfact.org/environment/...
Our fact check (which has a link to genuine footage filmed by storm hunters): fullfact.org/environment/...
Reposted by Steve Nowottny
We’re following several Labour promises mentioned at today’s #PMQs on our Government Tracker, including:
👮♀️ Neighbourhood policing
🏘️ Respect Orders
🩺 Hospital appointments
👮♀️ Neighbourhood policing
🏘️ Respect Orders
🩺 Hospital appointments
Government Tracker – Full Fact
Full Fact is monitoring the government’s delivery on its promises
fullfact.org
October 29, 2025 at 12:58 PM
We’re following several Labour promises mentioned at today’s #PMQs on our Government Tracker, including:
👮♀️ Neighbourhood policing
🏘️ Respect Orders
🩺 Hospital appointments
👮♀️ Neighbourhood policing
🏘️ Respect Orders
🩺 Hospital appointments
1,000+ shares for this TikTok video claiming that from this month onwards "every single driver entering central London will face a £100 charge".
It's not true, obviously - but it's part of a recent surge in fake viral claims about personal freedoms.
fullfact.org/economy/100-...
It's not true, obviously - but it's part of a recent surge in fake viral claims about personal freedoms.
fullfact.org/economy/100-...
October 27, 2025 at 7:26 AM
1,000+ shares for this TikTok video claiming that from this month onwards "every single driver entering central London will face a £100 charge".
It's not true, obviously - but it's part of a recent surge in fake viral claims about personal freedoms.
fullfact.org/economy/100-...
It's not true, obviously - but it's part of a recent surge in fake viral claims about personal freedoms.
fullfact.org/economy/100-...
Always nice when marketing emails have that personal touch…
October 25, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Always nice when marketing emails have that personal touch…