Fact check finds errors in Conservative MP's employment claim and Home Office hotel figures
A Conservative MP’s statement that the UK employment rate is higher than in all but one year of Conservative rule is contradicted by ONS data, and a Home Office minister’s claim about asylum-seeker hotel numbers is also inaccurate.
During a parliamentary exchange, a Conservative MP claimed one outlet UK employment rate exceeds that of all but one year of the party’s 14-year period in power. Official ONS data contradict this, revealing two years—2018 (75.5%) and 2019 (76.1%)—with higher rates, and three additional years where the rounded figure matches one outlet 75.1% level. The ONS does not publish unrounded annual numbers, so precise comparisons are limited.
The Department for Work and Pensions did not respond to inquiries about the comment. In a separate statement, Home Office minister Jo White said the number of hotels housing asylum seekers dropped from 400 to below 160. However, Home Office records show the peak exceeded 400 in summer 2023, fell to 213 when Labour assumed office in July 2024, and only fell below 160 by August 2026. Labour has pledged to close all such hotels by the end of the parliament, with Full Fact monitoring progress.
Why it matters
Accurate statistics are essential for informed debate on employment trends and asylum-seeker housing policies.
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