This week we're looking at health misinformation, waiting lists again and a misleading government website.

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Dear Friend,

Our campaign calling for political parties to stop using deceptive campaign practices like dressing up political leaflets and newspapers has been gaining momentum.

In the last week alone over 1,000 people have signed our petition. We’re looking to keep the momentum going by reaching 10,000 signatures before Christmas.

Can you help us get 10,000 signatures before Christmas by signing the petition?

I will sign the petition ([link removed])
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The image displayed above depicts only two instances sent by supporters, which initially may not be easily distinguished as either a newspaper or an election leaflet.

We've seen a consistent pattern over the last few general elections of parties using these formats and we think they risk misleading voters.

That is why Full Fact want to see this stop before the announcement of the next general election.
I will sign the petition ([link removed])
Best wishes,

Craig, Digital Campaigns Manager—Full Fact
FACT CHECKS


** Our clinical fact checker has some important advice for you ([link removed])
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We're saddened to bid farewell to our colleague, Dr. Fergus Brown, as he departs Full Fact following a year dedicated to combating online health misinformation.

Throughout his time at Full Fact he shed light on false health information flooding social media—from overstated claims about the benefits of fruit and vegetables, to an abundance of bogus cancer cures.

Returning to medicine, Dr. Brown has left Full Fact supporters with valuable advice for navigating health information, particularly online.

"Science is a lot more complicated and dynamic than we’re generally led to believe. Things change, views are updated and consensus opinion can get things wrong. But if someone is telling you something that most experts don’t seem to believe, be careful about taking their word for it."

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** Starmer confuses waiting list numbers ([link removed])
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Sir Keir Starmer repeated a claim yesterday mixing up the number of people on NHS waiting lists in England (about 6.5 million) with the number of courses of treatment they are waiting for (7.8 million).

We have seen several public figures make this mistake recently, including other Labour MPs. Following contact from Full Fact, Labour’s Liz Kendall, Dame Angela Eagle, Tulip Siddiq and Rachael Maskell, as well as The Times and The Independent, have agreed to clarify the different waiting list figures in future.

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** Government website misleading voters on mayoral election voting ([link removed])
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Until this week the UK government and Parliament websites carried incorrect information on the arrangements for mayoral elections in England, stating they used the Supplementary Vote (SV) instead of First Past the Post (FPTP).

Even though the Elections Act 2022 changed the method to FPTP from May 2023 onwards, these sites retained the wrong info. Full Fact intervened, prompting Parliament to correct the error, and the government has said it is in the process of updating its website.

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MORE FACT CHECKS
Also this week...
* One of Lee Rigby’s murderers has not been killed in prison ([link removed])
* Methylene chloride is not an ingredient in the sweetener Acesulfame K ([link removed])
* Photo of ‘missing dad with dementia’ is actually US taxi driver who died in 2022 ([link removed])

Read our latest fact checks ([link removed])
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Stop the spread of bad information

Find these updates useful? We'd be incredibly grateful if you could share our fact checks and help more people access good information.
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All the best,
Team Full Fact

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