Evie Townend

1 week ago | fullfact.org | Evie Townend

What was claimed Rachel Reeves is going to tax privately owned homes a monthly window tax of £3.70 per window per house from August 2025. Our verdict We could find no evidence of any such tax being introduced in August. The Treasury has said there are no plans for a window tax and that the claim is “fake”. A claim that the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is introducing a window tax of just under £4 per window is circulating on social media.

2 weeks ago | fullfact.org | Evie Townend

What was claimed People can no longer take cash out of the bank and have to give HMRC advance notice if they are withdrawing cash of £3,000 or more, as well as providing evidence of how it will be spent. Our verdict HMRC confirmed there is no such requirement to notify cash withdrawals to them. It’s true that banks may require some advance notice for large cash withdrawals, as well as identification and more information about the withdrawal.

2 weeks ago | fullfact.org | Evie Townend

The claim that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has invited Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on a state visit to the UK is circulating on social media, but we can find no evidence this is the case. A viral post on X, with more than 13,000 shares, includes photos of each of the two leaders with the caption: “BREAKING: Keir Starmer has invited Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa for a state visit to the UK.

2 weeks ago | fullfact.org | Evie Townend

What was claimed A photo shows an Indian pilot downed in Pakistan during the recent conflict between the two countries. Our verdict The photo actually shows one of two Indian Air Force pilots who parachuted to safety in Chamrajnagar in southern India when their aircraft crashed during a training exercise in June 2023. A photo is being shared on social media with claims it shows an Indian pilot downed in Pakistan amid recent conflict between the two countries.

2 weeks ago | fullfact.org | Evie Townend

What was claimed Pope Leo XIV said: “To be called ‘woke’ in a world that sleeps through suffering is not an insult, it’s the gospel”. Our verdict We can find no evidence that he actually said this. The earliest source we can find says it was “made up”. Social media posts are attributing a quote about being “woke” to Pope Leo XIV, but we can find no evidence he said this. And the earliest source of the quote that we can find says it was “made up”.