As the EU referendum on June 23rd ticks ever closer, the claws are coming out on either side of the debate. ‘Facts’, figures and opinions are being thrown left, right and centre from both sides, leaving many voters baffled and apathetic. A nation of confused voters are unlikely to be well-placed to make a decision that will have a profound effect on the lives of future generations – enter Full Fact, the fact-checking charity running a crowdfunding campaign to provide voters with non-partisan facts with which to make an informed decision.
According to Full Fact, 76 percent of people think it’s extremely important that MPs tell the truth – but, perhaps unsurprisingly, only 26 percent of people trust them to do so. So when it comes to making a decision on the referendum, which facts and figures are the nation supposed to listen to?
Full Fact are aiming to raise between £30,000 and £50,000 through a crowdfunding campaign on crowdfunder.co.uk, with total currently at nearly £40,000. All money donated goes towards hiring factcheckers, experts on the EU, people who can communicate complex concepts with simplicity and flair and covering volunteers expenses. Full Fact are working with with legal experts including professors from Cambridge, Durham and Oxford, top QCs, immigration experts from Oxford University’s Migration Observatory and other academics supported by the Economic and Social Research Council. Full Fact are fully funded by contributions and grants – they do not accept government funding.
Full Fact have provided political fact-checking services for many high-profile programmes including LBC Radio:
“The team at Full Fact proved an essential part of our online offering for one of the defining political events of the year. Their live blogging and instant scrutiny of the claims made by Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage provided an invaluable service for our audience and added real gravitas to our online offering,” said Tom Cheal, LBC’s political editor.
For more information on Full Fact’s findings on the EU referendum figures, visit Fullfact.org. To get involved and donate, visit their campaign page here.
25/04/2016
