A recent round-up of fact checks by Full Fact, the UK's independent fact-checking charity, has addressed two prominent claims circulating in public discourse. The first claim, featured in an 'Alternative King's Speech' published by the Conservatives on Monday, asserted that 'for the first time ever, the total welfare bill is now higher than total receipts from income tax.' This statement has been echoed by several politicians and media outlets in recent weeks, but Full Fact's analysis reveals it is inaccurate.
Welfare Spending vs Income Tax: Historical Context
According to data from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), total welfare spending did exceed income tax receipts in the 2025/26 financial year. However, this is far from a historic first. Full Fact's research, drawing on historical OBR documents, indicates that welfare spending—including state pensions, universal credit, and other benefits—has been higher than income tax receipts every year for at least the past 13 years. Notably, the gap narrowed significantly in 2025/26, and projections suggest the positions will reverse in the next fiscal year. Thus, rather than being the first time, this year is expected to be the last for the foreseeable future that welfare spending surpasses income tax in the UK.
Full Fact verified their findings with the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), which conducted an independent analysis and concurred. Tom Waters, an associate director at IFS, explained that 'what's changing is that welfare spending is forecast to be lower than income tax receipts in 2026/27 for the first time since at least 2013/14, and then remain that way until the end of the forecast period in 2030/31.'
The origin of the erroneous claim remains unclear. It appeared in multiple media outlets early last month, one of which corrected the statement after Full Fact intervened. The claim was also propagated on X by Conservative politicians, including shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately and Rebecca Smith MP. Conservative MP Dr Luke Evans made the same assertion in an April 8 article, as did party leader Kemi Badenoch during Prime Minister's Questions on April 29. Reform MP Robert Jenrick similarly repeated the claim on Facebook.
Full Fact emphasises the importance of nuance: many working individuals receive benefits, while many non-workers, including pensioners, pay income tax. Additionally, working people contribute national insurance. Thus, welfare and income tax figures do not simplistically reflect government spending on the unemployed or revenue from workers.
WHO and Hantavirus: Misinformation Debunked
The second claim addressed by Full Fact involves the World Health Organisation (WHO) and hantavirus. Social media posts on X and Facebook have falsely asserted that the WHO stated hantavirus is spreading 'very fast across the world.' These posts have circulated widely following the cluster of hantavirus cases aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship.
In a press conference in Madrid on May 12, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus clarified that the WHO's assessment continues to indicate a low global health risk. He stated, 'At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak, but of course the situation could change and, given the long incubation period of the virus, it's possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks.' On May 8 and again on May 13, the WHO reiterated that the risk to the global population remains low, while for those aboard the ship it is moderate. The organisation has consistently described the current situation as a 'cluster.'
A WHO spokesperson confirmed to Full Fact that their statements have never included the alarming language attributed to them in the social media claims. The misinformation appears to have originated from misinterpretation or deliberate distortion of the WHO's measured communications.
