Emma Thelwell

Are public sector pensions set to cost the taxpayer more money as Francis Maude MP claims? FactCheck investigates.

The claim “The only place with more expensive Legal Aid than England and Wales is Northern Ireland, and no doubt they’ll be addressing the same question” Ken Clarke, Justice Secretary, on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, June 29, 2011

Just how much will the affordable rent programme cost? Millions or billions? FactCheck investigates.

The claim “I welcome the Select Committee’s recognition that the Coastguard Service is in urgent need of modernisation. ” Transport Secretary Philip Hammond, 23 June, 201

Ed Miliband picked an emotive subject when he claimed the Welfare Bill would see 7,000 cancer patients lose almost £100 a week in benefits. “How can that be right?” he asked. FactCheck investigates.

FactCheck reveals that just eight Free Schools in England have the final go-ahead to open in September 2011, with a further 16 awaiting funding approval. Will poorer students benefit as planned? FactCheck investigates the schools set to open.

The claim “This Code will make it easier for some parents – like those setting up free schools – to get the school they want, but by weakening the system overall, it will make it harder for the majority of parents.”

The claim “Hopefully the days of the super-injunction are numbered, because it’s only a law that protects the rich.” Max Clifford, celebrity publicist , Daybreak, May 24, 2011

The claim “Fact of the day (because the BBC won’t tell you): UK spending cuts are currently smaller than €urozone average” Tim Montgomerie, Conservative Home editor, on Twitter, May 23 2011

The claim “It is true that we are thinking of putting up the reduction to a half. It makes an enormous difference to costs, police time and the involvement of unnecessary preparations for trial if everybody leaves guilty pleas to the last possible moment.” Ken Clarke, Justice Secretary, House of Commons debate, May 17, 2011

The claim “We’ve actually boosted the funding for Rape Crisis centres.” David Cameron MP, Prime Minister’s Questions, May 18, 2011

The claim “Waiting times are rising” Ed Miliband MP, Prime Minister’s Questions, May 11, 2011

The claim “It’s a system so obscure that it is only used by three countries in the whole world – Australia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Our system in contrast is used by half the world.” Prime Minister David Cameron, speech in Sale, Manchester, April 11, 2011

The claim “I have a second preference as well as you, as well as Justin here, or anybody else – and you count them again as well.” John Humphrys, presenter, BBC Radio 4 Today programme, May 3, 2011

The claim “This (Margaret Thatcher’s Government) was organised wickedness given the veneer of legitimacy by an electoral system that gave 100 per cent of Government power despite being opposed by 60 per cent of the population.” Tim Farron, President, Liberal Democrats, at AV cross-party event, 27 April 2011