So, has Brexit caused higher gas prices?

1 Oct 2021 | Full Fact's weekly news

FACT CHECK
So, has Brexit caused higher gas prices?

Over the past week, we’ve seen a number of claims on social media that increasing gas prices in the UK are, in large part, down to Brexit, and namely the fact that the UK has left the EU’s Internal Energy Market.

There is no evidence that leaving the EU is a major reason behind price increases felt in the UK.

On the reason for the UK price rises, Oil & Gas UK states: “The causes are global – European gas stocks are down, supplies from Russia have declined and there is strong demand for liquefied natural gas from Asia.”

The UK has reportedly suffered reduced wind, and several nuclear units are offline. Governments in other European countries are reportedly considering measures to help consumers cope with increased costs of gas and electricity.

What is the Internal Energy Market?

While we're talking gas... Contrary to what’s been claimed on social media, there is no evidence that the government is spreading fuel shortage rumours to sell surplus. Read what’s fuelled these claims.

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FACT CHECK
Conservative MP makes unevidenced claims about vaccine damage

On 10 September Conservative MP Sir Christopher Chope OBE presented the Covid-19 Vaccine Damage Bill for its second reading in the House of Commons.

He claimed the government has produced a lot of information about the extent of vaccine damage, including the Yellow Card scheme.

It is misleading to equate Yellow Card reports with “vaccine damage”. The MHRA is very clear that reports of adverse events after vaccination cannot be treated as confirmed side effects, as there is often no proven causal link.

Chope had quite a lot to say on the matter, including making claims about other mass vaccination programmes, the “large number” of inpatients in hospital due to the vaccine and how many families have been affected by the “damage” caused. There is not enough evidence to support any of these claims.

What else did he have to say?

FACT CHECK
No, the Red Cross hasn’t banned blood donation from vaccinated people

A post circulating on Instagram claims the Red Cross says those vaccinated against Covid-19 cannot donate blood plasma because the vaccine wipes out antibodies.

This is false. The American Red Cross has stopped accepting donations of plasma containing Covid-19 antibodies from anyone, simply because it has enough supply.

The American Red Cross says claims that the Red Cross will not accept convalescent plasma donations from those who have received the COVID-19 vaccine are “not accurate".

It adds: “due to the decline in hospital demand and because the Red Cross and our industry partners have been able to build a sufficient supply of convalescent plasma to meet the foreseeable needs of COVID-19 patients, the Red Cross stopped collecting convalescent plasma completely on June 14.”

The American Red Cross is still accepting blood donations from people who have been vaccinated.

Please note, NHS Blood and Transplant, the organisation which manages blood donation in England, says you can donate blood from seven days after being vaccinated. It says this is because “any side effects [from the vaccine] are unlikely to be confused with illness after donating.” If you suffer side effects from the vaccine, you must wait 28 days after recovering from them before you donate blood.

We've fact checked similar claims before

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