Hannah Smith

Senior Political Journalist

Hannah joined Full Fact as a fact checker in May 2022. Before that she wrote news and features for UNILAD. She is a qualified journalist, and also has a degree in history.

9 March 2026

Appears on track

Government Tracker

Is the government on track to reduce net migration?

By Joshua Salisbury and Hannah Smith • 3 mins

Full Fact takes a look at Labour’s manifesto pledge to reduce net migration. Read

Gov Tracker

6 March 2026

Appears on track

Government Tracker

Are living standards improving in every part of the UK?

By Hannah Smith • 2 mins

Full Fact looks at whether the government’s new ‘Plan for Change’ pledge to raise living standards in every part of the UK is on track. Read

Gov Tracker

6 March 2026

World

David Lammy incorrectly claims Cyprus is ‘a NATO country’

By Hannah Smith • 2 mins

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy wrongly claimed on BBC Breakfast that Cyprus is “part of NATO”. Read

Fact checks

4 March 2026

Conflict

Type 45 destroyers such as HMS Dragon can shoot down incoming missiles

By Hannah Smith • 2 mins

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch claimed at Prime Minister’s Questions that Type 45 destroyers “cannot take out incoming missiles”, but that isn’t correct. Read

Fact checks

3 March 2026

Economy, Business & Finance

Mel Stride repeats inaccurate claim about youth unemployment

By Hannah Smith • 1 min

Responding to today’s Spring Forecast, Conservative shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride MP claimed that the UK’s youth unemployment is “the highest in Europe”.This isn’t correct. According to the Organisation for … Read