This week we’re looking at NHS waiting lists, claims about the tragic Bondi attacks, Iranian strikes on Israel and political slogans on ballot papers.

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Dear Friend,

In January 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to reduce NHS waiting lists, but it wasn’t clear how quickly or what would constitute a decrease.

When politicians or the media refer to "waiting lists" they usually cite referral to treatment (RTT) data which includes the number of cases and people awaiting planned treatment.

Despite the ambiguity in the pledge, NHS waiting lists in England, for planned treatment, increased throughout the year following Sunak's pledge.
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Get the full details by reading our complete analysis 👇
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The NHS also has many other types of waiting lists—including so-called “hidden waiting lists”, for which data isn’t published.

Strikes by NHS workers have been cited as a factor in lengthening waiting lists, but analysis suggests waiting lists would probably have grown last year even if they hadn’t happened.
Despite regional and national variations in waiting lists which means they can't be directly compared what is clear is that waiting lists also increased in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

To get the full picture of what is happening to waiting times I encourage you to read our complete analysis. ([link removed])
Best wishes,

Craig, Digital Campaigns Manager—Full Fact


** Can a political party apply for a ‘slogan’ to be included on a ballot paper? ([link removed])
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Following posts on social media asking “Why the **** are the Conservatives allowed to put a slogan in their candidate's box and no one else is?”

The post includes an image of a ballot paper for the Gloucestershire police and crime commissioner (PCC) election on 2 May. The Conservative candidate Chris Nelson—who is standing for re-election—has “More Police, Safer Streets” printed next to his status as the “Conservative candidate”.

Any political party can use a party description on a ballot paper. It must first be approved by the Electoral Commission, which maintains a register of political parties and their approved descriptions online.

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** Video does not show Palestinians ‘celebrating’ after Iran strikes ([link removed])
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A video posted on social media has been shared with claims it shows Palestinians “celebrating” Iran’s recent missile and drone strikes on Israel.

The video appears to show a large crowd chanting outside the Al-Aqsa mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem, at a site referred to as al-Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary) by Muslims and Temple Mount or Har ha-Bayit by Jews.

But this video has actually been shared online since at least 5 April (though this version appears to have been taken down), more than a week before the attack on Israel on the evening of 13 April.
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** Sydney student misidentified as Bondi attacker in viral online claims ([link removed])
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Several posts on social media misidentify the Sydney mall attacker as a student named Benjamin Cohen. But police have confirmed the name of the attacker was Joel Cauchi.

In the aftermath of the incident, a false claim spread on social media identifying the attacker as a 20-year-old Sydney student named Benjamin Cohen, and his name continues to be connected to the attack online.
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Related checks:
* Screenshots of Sky News posts calling Bondi attack terrorism are fake ([link removed])

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MORE FACT CHECKS
Also this week...
* A ministerial mistake is on the Parliamentary record—but was it due to an editing mix-up? ([link removed])
* ‘Iran attack’ video compilation mostly shows unrelated events from other countries ([link removed])
* No evidence WEF chairman Klaus Schwab 'severely ill' in hospital as claimed ([link removed])

Read our latest fact checks ([link removed])
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