Europe
Government asylum claims based on unpublished data
The Home Office said 60% of asylum seekers entered the country illegally but this is based on unpublished statistics Read
Fact checks
Asylum seekers
Full Fact investigates claims and misinformation about asylum seekers in the UK and beyond.
Our fact checks examine statements from politicians, media reports and social media posts about numbers arriving, government policy, housing, and community impact.
Each article uses transparent data, verified official statistics and expert evidence to clarify what’s accurate, what’s misleading and what’s unproven.
This viral post on benefits and tax avoidance is inaccurate
It underestimates the spending on benefits for people seeking asylum and uses a disputed estimate of the tax gap to talk about tax avoidance. Read
Fact checks
Economy, Business & Finance
Comparing tax dodging and benefits for people seeking asylum
MP Zarah Sultana claimed that the super-rich and large corporations dodge £90 billion in tax every year. This is based on an estimate for the tax gap which is much higher than the official figure. Read
Fact checks
It’s not true that migrants get a free TV licence
A widely shared post on Facebook incorrectly claims migrants who arrive in Britain receive a free TV licence, while pensioners have to pay for one. Read
Fact checks
Immigration
Can refugees enter the UK illegally?
Refugees can’t be penalised for entering illegally if they are claiming asylum and coming from a place where their life or freedom are threatened. Read
Fact checks
Immigration
How many refugees does the UK take in?
The UK “resettled” more refugees than any other EU country in 2017 and 2018, but several EU countries have granted asylum to more refugees overall in that time than the UK has. Read
Fact checks
This image on benefits for pensioners and refugees is not correct
This viral image claims that pensioners can collect just a fifth of the benefits ‘illegal immigrants’ and refugees can. But how much can each group really get? Read
Fact checks
Immigration
Do refugees have to stay in the first safe country they reach?
Refugees are not required to seek asylum in the first safe country they reach. But under EU law they can sometimes be returned to the first safe EU country they reached. Read
Fact checks
Immigration
We factchecked a viral video on asylum seekers
Asylum seekers have to be destitute to get support and, if eligible, can’t choose what type of housing they get. Read
Fact checks
Immigration
How many child asylum seekers are found to be adults?
Two thirds of assessed child asylum seekers, but a small proportion of all child asylum seekers, are found to be over 18. Read
Fact checks
