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Dear Friend,
In the newsletter this week
* Who decides the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize?
* Who gets more, pensioners, “illegal immigrants” or refugees?
* AI-generated doctors endorse weight loss patches
* Government Tracker
* More articles...
But first...
In its 2024 manifesto, Labour promised to fix “an additional one million potholes in England in each year of the next parliament”.
Analysis we have conducted using 154 transparency reports from local highway authorities across England lays bare the scale of that challenge.
Our investigation reveals that around 1.85 million potholes were filled in 2024/25 (149 councils provided usable figures for 2024/25). This suggests at least 2.85 million potholes would need to be repaired in 2025/26 to fulfill Labour’s pledge this year—a 54% increase.
Early estimates from 85 councils suggest the total number of potholes they will fill in 2025/26 is likely to remain roughly the same as 2024/25.
We also found huge variation in the way councils record repairs across the country, and you can check the figures for individual councils in our piece.
Read our analysis ([link removed])
We have aptly rated this pledge as Appears off track ([link removed]) in our Government Tracker.
Best wishes,
Jon
Full Fact
More fact checks from this week ↓
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** Who decides the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize? ([link removed])
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[link removed]
By: Hannah Smith ([link removed])
Amid ongoing tensions between the US and Europe over the future of Greenland, US President Donald Trump has appeared to criticise the country of Norway for the fact that he wasn’t awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
But what role does Norway play in awarding the Nobel Peace Prize?
Read more ([link removed])
** Who gets more, pensioners, “illegal immigrants” or refugees? ([link removed])
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By: Hannah Smith ([link removed])
A series of figures comparing the amount pensioners receive in financial assistance from the government with the amount received by “illegal immigrants/refugees living in Britain” is circulating again on Facebook.
We look into the breakdown of state benefits received by pensioners, “illegal immigrants” and refugees.
Read the fact check ([link removed])
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** AI-generated doctors endorse weight loss patches ([link removed])
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[link removed]
By: Sian Bayley ([link removed])
Social media posts that appear to show doctors applying patches then losing weight aren’t real and were made using artificial intelligence.
The NHS does not recommend ‘weight loss patches’ as a safe or effective treatment for obesity.
We look at the tell tale signs of AI in this video, and how they were made.
Read more ([link removed])
** Government Tracker
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A selection of updates from the last seven days.
** Thursday 22 January
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Has the government introduced new consumer protections on ticket resales? ([link removed])
** Tuesday 20 January
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Is the government on course to fix an additional million potholes in England each year? ([link removed])
** Monday 19 January
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Is the government on track to introduce a ‘Hillsborough Law’? ([link removed])
** More articles...
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** Comment: Banning social media for under 16s could create more problems than it solves ([link removed])
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By: Full Fact CEO, Chris Morris ([link removed])
** No evidence David Lammy said people are now £6,000 better off under Labour ([link removed])
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By: Charlotte Green ([link removed])
** Press release: Former National Cyber Leader and data expert to become Full Fact Chair ([link removed])
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