34 claims checked against independent sources, chosen by a fixed rule (every material claim (one that supports an argument, a policy or an attack) in the transcripts that count towards a score; in other transcripts, up to 10 claims spread evenly across each; plus any claim an emotional passage relies on). 0 more were found but not checked yet; they do not count.
Quotes leave out filler sounds and repeated words. Words in [square brackets] correct a transcript that misheard or misspelt them. The transcript keeps every word as published.
Supported75% confidence
“We said we would do 2 million extra NHS appointments. We've done 5 million”
Claim checkedLabour promised 2 million extra NHS appointments a year and has delivered 5 million more since taking office.
NHS England data, as cited in ministers' written answers, count about 5.2 million more tests, operations and other elective appointments from July 2024 to June 2025 than in the previous year, against a pledge of 2 million. Full Fact notes the measure covers only certain hospital activity, and the rise was smaller than the one in the year before the election.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Partly supported55% confidence
“confidence in the NHS is going up.”
Claim checkedPublic confidence in the NHS is going up (as of September 2025).
The latest Health Foundation and Ipsos survey before the interview (May 2025) found public views of the NHS still negative overall, with only 'some signs' that perceptions were slowly improving. The British Social Attitudes survey later showed satisfaction rising from a record low of 21% in 2024 to 26% in 2025, but that was not published until March 2026. A modest early sign, not a clear rise.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported80% confidence
“rolled out child care. This is child care from 9 months to four years.”
Claim checkedThe government has rolled out funded childcare for working parents of children from 9 months to four years old in England.
From September 2025 eligible working parents in England could get 30 hours a week of funded childcare from the term after their child turns 9 months until school, completing the expansion. The expansion was announced by the previous government in 2023 and completed under this one.
Our model rated this · methodology v7No independent source: excluded
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported70% confidence
“For parents and carers, that's thousands of pounds saved”
Claim checkedThe expanded funded childcare saves parents and carers thousands of pounds.
The Department for Education estimates the 30 funded hours save eligible working parents up to £7,500 a year per child. This is a government estimate and an upper figure; actual savings vary.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported70% confidence
“four-year-olds arriving in reception, some reading quite well, others virtually in nappies.”
Claim checkedChildren are arriving in Reception at four years old, some virtually in nappies.
Kindred Squared's survey of primary school staff, published in January 2025, reported that about a quarter of children starting Reception in 2024 were not toilet trained, alongside wide gaps in readiness. The stories he refers to are well documented.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported95% confidence
“just this month we've introduced the Hillsborough law”
Claim checkedThe Hillsborough law (Public Office (Accountability) Bill) was introduced to Parliament in September 2025.
The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough law, was introduced to Parliament on 16 September 2025, the same month as the interview.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported85% confidence
“We won the order for frigots from Norway. That's 10 billion pounds.”
Claim checkedThe UK won Norway's order for frigates, worth £10 billion.
On 31 August 2025 Norway chose the UK's Type 26 frigate for at least five ships in a strategic partnership the UK Government valued at £10 billion, its biggest warship export by value. Janes and Breaking Defense reported the same decision.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported60% confidence
“That's 15 years of ship building on the Clyde.”
Claim checkedNorway's £10 billion frigate order means 15 years of shipbuilding on the Clyde.
The Ministry of Defence said the Norway deal supports about 2,000 jobs at BAE Systems' Glasgow yards 'until the late 2030s', and deliveries to Norway start in 2030. That is roughly 12 to 15 years of work from 2025, so '15 years' is at the top of the range.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported90% confidence
“Writing an injustice that's gone on for 36 years”
Claim checkedThe Hillsborough law rights an injustice that has gone on for 36 years.
The Hillsborough disaster was in April 1989; April 2025 marked its 36th anniversary, when the Prime Minister repeated his promise of a Hillsborough law.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported85% confidence
“last Thursday we rolled out the pride in place funding. This is 10 years worth of funding to places”
Claim checkedOn Thursday 25 September 2025 the government launched Pride in Place funding, ten years of funding for overlooked places.
The Pride in Place programme was announced on Thursday 25 September 2025: up to £5 billion, including up to £20 million each over ten years for the most deprived neighbourhoods, with neighbourhood boards deciding how to spend it. Some of the 339 places received a one-off £1.5 million instead of ten-year funding.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Partly supported60% confidence
“deporting migrants who are lawfully here, who've been here for years, working in our hospitals, and our schools, running businesses, our neighbors, and reforms say they want to deport them.”
Claim checkedReform UK said last week that it wants to deport migrants who are lawfully in the UK and have been here for years.
On 22 September 2025 Reform UK said it would abolish indefinite leave to remain, including retrospectively, so that people already settled here lawfully would have to reapply for renewable visas under stricter salary and English rules; Zia Yusuf said hundreds of thousands would lose settled status. People who failed would lose the right to stay, but the announcement was framed as removing settled status, not as a pledge to deport them.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported85% confidence
“We are at the moment a leading member of the coalition of the willing, coraling and bringing together European countries to fight the aggression of Putin.”
Claim checkedThe UK is a leading member of the coalition of the willing, bringing together European countries to support Ukraine against Russia.
Starmer launched the 'coalition of the willing' after the London summit of 2 March 2025 and has co-led it with France, convening European and other partners to support Ukraine against Russia's invasion.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported85% confidence
“the borders bill. Reform of the tourists vote against that.”
Claim checkedReform UK and the Conservatives voted against the government's Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill.
At second reading of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill on 10 February 2025, the Conservatives and Reform UK MPs voted against the bill, which passed 333 to 109.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported90% confidence
“We've struck a returns deal with France.”
Claim checkedThe government has agreed a returns deal with France for people crossing the Channel.
Starmer and President Macron announced the 'one in, one out' returns pilot on 10 July 2025, the agreement came into force in August, and the first return to France took place on 18 September 2025.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported70% confidence
“for the first time since we left the EU because back in the days of the EU, we could actually return to France and other countries. Now we can return to France.”
Claim checkedThe returns deal with France means the UK can return people to France for the first time since it left the EU.
Leaving the EU ended the UK's use of the Dublin system for returning asylum seekers to other EU states, and no replacement deal was in place until the UK–France pilot, under which returns to France began in September 2025. Returns under Dublin were few even before Brexit, and the pilot is small.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Partly supported70% confidence
“we've done 35,000 returns since we've been in power, which is the highest number for nearly 10 years.”
Claim checkedThe government has carried out 35,000 returns since July 2024, the highest number for nearly 10 years.
Home Office figures show 35,052 returns (enforced and voluntary) between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025, up 13% on the year before. Full Fact found the 12-month total was the highest since 2017, about eight years earlier, not nearly ten; most of the returns were voluntary departures.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported90% confidence
“we inherited tens of thousands of asylum claims which hadn't been processed by the last government.”
Claim checkedLabour inherited tens of thousands of unprocessed asylum claims from the previous Conservative government.
Home Office statistics put the cases awaiting an initial asylum decision at the end of June 2025 at 70,532, 18% fewer than a year earlier, which implies about 86,000 cases in June 2024 when the government took office.
Our model rated this · methodology v7No independent source: excluded
Not yet reviewed by a person
Not supported50% confidence
“we've got many more people processing claims”
Claim checkedThe government has many more people processing asylum claims.
The Migration Observatory reports that asylum caseworker numbers doubled under the previous government to about 2,500 at the start of 2024, then fell to around 2,000 by the end of 2025. The rise in decisions after July 2024 came mainly from resuming claims paused under the Illegal Migration Act and from productivity, not from many more staff.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported85% confidence
“there are too many examples of for example people coming here on student visas and doing their studies and at the end of that exercise then claiming asylum.”
Claim checkedThere are many cases of people who come to the UK on student visas and claim asylum at the end of their studies.
Home Office data show about 14,800 asylum claims in the year to June 2025 from people who arrived on a study visa, down from 16,500 the year before but far above the 4,700 of 2019; study visas were the most common route for visa holders claiming asylum.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported75% confidence
“when we've tried to return people there are claims put in hours before the return which could have been put in weeks before.”
Claim checkedWhen the government has tried to return people to France under the new deal, claims have been made hours before removal that could have been made weeks before.
In September 2025 an Eritrean man due to be among the first returned to France under the new deal won a High Court pause after raising a trafficking claim shortly before removal. The Home Secretary called last-minute claims on the eve of removal 'intolerable'.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported90% confidence
“introducing as I announced this week digital ID so that we are clear in the principle that you cannot work in the United Kingdom if you do not have ID”
Claim checkedStarmer announced in the week of 26 September 2025 a digital ID that will be required to work in the UK.
Starmer announced on 26 September 2025 that a free digital ID would become mandatory for right-to-work checks by the end of the Parliament.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Can't verify50% confidence
“amongst the reasons is because it's easier to work in our illegal economy than it is in other countries”
Claim checkedAmong the reasons people cross from France to the UK is that it is easier to work in the UK's illegal economy than in other countries.
Ministers say smuggling gangs sell the chance to work illegally in the UK, but the government's own Lords answer in July 2025 said there is no single pull factor, and no study was found showing that illegal work is easier in the UK than in other European countries or that it drives Channel crossings.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported75% confidence
“Most elections have always been labor or conservative.”
Claim checkedUK general elections have nearly always been contests between Labour and the Conservatives.
Every UK government since 1945 has been formed or led by Labour or the Conservatives, and they have been the two main contenders at general elections. In 2025 Reform UK led many national polls, which polling analysts described as a break from two-party politics.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Can't verify50% confidence
“The planning applications reflect the position a year ago because it takes time to come through.”
Claim checkedRecord-low planning approvals for new homes reflect applications from a year earlier, because approvals take time to come through.
Approvals do lag behind applications, but government data show residential planning applications received were also falling in 2025, and the Home Builders Federation links the slump to weak demand and viability, not only timing. No source was found that tests his explanation.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Excluded from Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Partly supported65% confidence
“People now on average over 35 before they can afford to get their own home.”
Claim checkedPeople in England are now on average over 35 before they can afford their own home.
The English Housing Survey 2023-24 puts the average age of first-time buyers in England at 34 (35 in London), up from 32 in 2019-20. Late thirties is close in London, but nationally 'over 35' overstates the average.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported70% confidence
“I said before the election, it will take more than 12 months to turn around 14 years of failure.”
Claim checkedBefore the 2024 election Starmer said it would take more than 12 months to turn around 14 years of failure.
Before the 2024 election Starmer repeatedly said there was 'no quick fix' and 'no magic wand', that change would take time, and spoke of a 'decade of national renewal'.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Partly supported55% confidence
“Got record investment coming in.”
Claim checkedThe UK has record investment coming in.
During the US state visit of 16-18 September 2025 the government announced about £150 billion of US investment pledges, which Downing Street called the largest package ever secured during a state visit. These are pledges spread over years, and no source shows record investment actually arriving.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Can't verify45% confidence
“the issue that's come up more than anything is special educational needs”
Claim checkedSpecial educational needs is the issue raised most often at Prime Minister's Questions.
No count of Prime Minister's Questions topics was found. Special educational needs was often raised by MPs of several parties in 2025, but whether it was the issue raised most cannot be checked from published sources.
No source found. Left out of Accuracy.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Excluded from Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Not supported55% confidence
“I've actually issued an invitation to other parties to work with us on this”
Claim checkedStarmer has issued an invitation to other parties to work with the government on reforming special educational needs.
After the interview the Liberal Democrats said they had written to the Prime Minister in July offering to work together but that no invitation to proper talks had come, and Tes reported that the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats rejected his account. No record of a formal invitation was found.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Partly supported50% confidence
“No, I didn't.”
Claim checkedStarmer did not put the field he bought for his parents into a trust.
No trust deed has been reported, but in 2022 he told the standards commissioner he gifted the field to his parents 'for as long as they should live' while keeping legal title. Tax Policy Associates and lawyers quoted by The Sunday Times say that arrangement is in law a life-interest trust, so 'no trust' is true only in the sense that no formal trust was drawn up.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Supported75% confidence
“2 million extra appointments for the NHS is what we promised. We delivered five.”
Claim checkedThe government promised 2 million extra NHS appointments and delivered 5 million.
NHS England data, as cited in ministers' written answers, count about 5.2 million more tests, operations and other elective appointments from July 2024 to June 2025 than in the previous year, against a pledge of 2 million. Full Fact notes the measure covers only certain hospital activity, and the rise was smaller than the one in the year before the election.
Our model rated this · methodology v7Counts in Accuracy
Not yet reviewed by a person
Not counted
7
Procedural claims (the speaker's own dates, petition counts, who said what, background), clear slips of the tongue, and words read out from someone else. They stay on the record and do not count in Accuracy.