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FACT CHECK

Keir Starmer's child poverty claim was fact checked

15

Fact check: Keir Starmer's SNP child poverty claim

From left: Labour politicians Ed Miliband, Sarah Boyack, Keir Starmer, Anas Sarwar, and Ian Murray on a visit to Peterhead

From left: Labour politicians Ed Miliband, Sarah Boyack, Keir Starmer, Anas Sarwar, and Ian Murray on a visit to Peterhead

6

Will GB Energy really cut bills and create jobs as Labour claim?

Rishi Sunak claimed there is a 'careful' arms licensing system

Rishi Sunak claimed there is a 'careful' arms licensing system

Just how 'careful' is the UK's arms export licensing system, really?

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered the Spring Budget on Wednesday

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivered the Spring Budget on Wednesday

Barnett Formula

2

Is there an 'extra £300 million for Scotland' in the Tories' Spring Budget?

The McCrone Report marks its 50th anniversary today

The McCrone Report marks its 50th anniversary today

22

This is what Westminster doesn't want you to read: The McCrone Report in full

Last year's front page for our McCrone Report special

Last year's front page for our McCrone Report special

Cost of living crisis

3

The National to publish 50th anniversary McCrone Report special edition

The National's fact checker looks at claims that Michael Gove's State of the Union paper has leaked online

The National's fact checker looks at claims that Michael Gove's State of the Union paper has leaked online

Has Michael Gove’s secret ‘State of the Union’ report been leaked online?

First Minister Humza Yousaf with his family outside Bute House

First Minister Humza Yousaf with his family outside Bute House

12

Did the First Minister charge taxpayers for 'house repairs'?

Nicola Sturgeon speaks at a Covid briefing in 2020

Nicola Sturgeon speaks at a Covid briefing in 2020

7

Claim that 'secret' memo showed SNP plot for indyref 'push' during Covid

A number of claims made by senior Tories at the party's conference have been found to be false

A number of claims made by senior Tories at the party's conference have been found to be false

Conservative Party

5

Senior Tories called out by fact checkers after false claims at conference

We fact-checked Penny Mordaunt's claims

We fact-checked Penny Mordaunt's claims

Conservative Party

14

Is Scotland full of Victorian disease and rats like Penny Mordaunt says?

The National fact checks Douglas Ross's decriminalisation claims

The National fact checks Douglas Ross's decriminalisation claims

Conservative Party

6

Douglas Ross says drug decriminalisation is 'ridiculous' – he is wrong

Douglas Ross has faced fierce criticism from the British Medical Association (BMA) after his comments

Douglas Ross has faced fierce criticism from the British Medical Association (BMA) after his comments

3

Have English junior doctors ‘politicised their pay' to oppose the Tory government?

We fact-checked Rishi Sunak's claim

We fact-checked Rishi Sunak's claim

Cost of living crisis

6

Claim that more North Sea oil will 'drive down energy prices'

Orkney is looking to explore alternative forms of governance for the islands

Orkney is looking to explore alternative forms of governance for the islands

3

Is Orkney really looking for independence from the UK and Scotland?

Nicola Sturgeon's SNP government brought in the Scottish Child Payment to tackle poverty

Nicola Sturgeon's SNP government brought in the Scottish Child Payment to tackle poverty

Children & Young People

8

FACT CHECK: Has Nicola Sturgeon 'absolutely' failed Scotland's children?

The claim in The Guardian was that 'on any standard ... Scotland under Sturgeon has not been well run'

The claim in The Guardian was that 'on any standard ... Scotland under Sturgeon has not been well run'

19

FACT CHECK: Claim 'Scotland under Sturgeon has not been well run'

The famous Bealach na Ba road on the Applecross peninsula

The famous Bealach na Ba road on the Applecross peninsula

COMMUNITY FOCUS

How one community-owned Scots energy project brings wider benefits to its area

A nuclear power station in Belgium, one of the countries which did not sign a letter urging the European Commission to classify nuclear as green energy

A nuclear power station in Belgium, one of the countries which did not sign a letter urging the European Commission to classify nuclear as green energy

NUCLEAR CONVERSATION

25

Should nuclear be part of Scotland's energy future? Experts argue their case

Independence is a necessity if all of Scotland's people are to benefit from our renewable energy wealth

Independence is a necessity if all of Scotland's people are to benefit from our renewable energy wealth

McCrone Report 2023

8

Why only independence can offer Scotland an energy-secure future

Orbital's 2MW O2 tidal turbine is anchored at the Fall of Warness, off Eday in Orkney

Orbital's 2MW O2 tidal turbine is anchored at the Fall of Warness, off Eday in Orkney

2

Scotland has 'lion's share' of world's tidal energy potential – and chance to use it

7

It's time to end the long and damaging legacy of energy control by Westminster

Scotland's energy secretary Michael Matheson has argued communities should have the right to benefit from local windfarms

Scotland's energy secretary Michael Matheson has argued communities should have the right to benefit from local windfarms

2

Independence would give communities 'legal right' to benefit from wind farms

Issue targeted campaign on renewables is missing from the independence debate

Issue targeted campaign on renewables is missing from the independence debate

McCrone Report 2023

2

'It's Scotland's energy': What would a renewables campaign look like today?

Nicola Sturgeon checks out an onshore wind farm

Nicola Sturgeon checks out an onshore wind farm

3

Jonathon Shafi: How the SNP lack clear vision for Scotland's renewables future

Scotland needs independence to make money from its renewable energy sources

Scotland needs independence to make money from its renewable energy sources

McCrone Report 2023

7

Is history repeating?: What went wrong with ScotWind

Scotland has the potential to be energy-rich in renewables after ditching oil and gas

Scotland has the potential to be energy-rich in renewables after ditching oil and gas

1

Can Scotland still be energy rich after ditching oil and gas?

Aberdeen is set to be transformed by its net zero plans

Aberdeen is set to be transformed by its net zero plans

Aberdeen City Council

1

Can Aberdeen really become the net zero capital of the world?

Scotland is replete with renewable energy but Westminster is holding us back

Scotland is replete with renewable energy but Westminster is holding us back

McCrone Report 2023

4

Scotland can be an energy powerhouse but not within the Union

The UK Government's decision to give the go-ahead for the UK's first new deep coal mine for 30 years in Cumbria has sparked opposition

The UK Government's decision to give the go-ahead for the UK's first new deep coal mine for 30 years in Cumbria has sparked opposition

UK Government energy policy undermines net zero goals, campaigners warn

Scotland has the potential to mine critical minerals essential for a clean energy future, according to experts

Scotland has the potential to mine critical minerals essential for a clean energy future, according to experts

1

Why mining for critical minerals could be the key to Scotland's energy independence

In 1978 few people got to know about what went on at Westminster; only the highlights as selected by the Unionist media

In 1978 few people got to know about what went on at Westminster; only the highlights as selected by the Unionist media

McCrone Report 2023

House of Commons exchanges about oil in 1978 reveal Labour’s hypocrisy

Robert McKinlay pictured in Glasgow. Photo by Colin Mearns

Robert McKinlay pictured in Glasgow. Photo by Colin Mearns

5

‘I don’t know if I'll ever be able to pay off my energy bills'

How many oil and gas fields have successfully reached production in the North Sea?

How many oil and gas fields have successfully reached production in the North Sea?

1

The North Sea oil and gas fields brought into production since 1975

Scotland's remote and rural communities often rely on electricity for energy

Scotland's remote and rural communities often rely on electricity for energy

1

Scotland's rural communities face energy bills double the UK average

Transmission fees are payments paid to the National Grid by electricity generators in order to use the large and expensive transmission network

Transmission fees are payments paid to the National Grid by electricity generators in order to use the large and expensive transmission network

7

What are transmission fees and why is Scotland charged so much?

We have fact checked a recent report which suggested independence could cost Scotland more than 250,000 jobs

We have fact checked a recent report which suggested independence could cost Scotland more than 250,000 jobs

11

FACT CHECK: Would Scottish independence really cost us 250,000 jobs?

Scotland's oil wealth greased the wheels of Margaret Thatcher's devastating transformation of Britain

Scotland's oil wealth greased the wheels of Margaret Thatcher's devastating transformation of Britain

Conservative Party

10

How Scotland's oil funded Thatcher's devastating transformation of Britain

Two offshore platforms in the Cromarty Firth, Scotland

Two offshore platforms in the Cromarty Firth, Scotland

McCrone Report 2023

2

How the McCrone Report influenced the creation of the Scotland Act

Activists have been on the streets since the 1970s knowing Scotland was robbed

Activists have been on the streets since the 1970s knowing Scotland was robbed

EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS

McCrone Report 2023

8

What it was like watching Westminster get rich from Scotland’s oil

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will hope the Brexiteers in his Tory Party will back his new deal

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will hope the Brexiteers in his Tory Party will back his new deal

REAL SCOTTISH POLITICS

4

Wee Ginger Dug: Energy bills to RISE as Tories prove they have other priorities

The McCrone report argued that the economic case for independence was transformed due to the level of oil in the North Sea

The McCrone report argued that the economic case for independence was transformed due to the level of oil in the North Sea

Conservative Party

3

The truth behind the McCrone Report and Scotland's oil

The National’s new series will take an in-depth look at how the country has been held back by damaging Westminster policies - and future solutions

The National’s new series will take an in-depth look at how the country has been held back by damaging Westminster policies - and future solutions

McCrone Report 2023

9

What to expect this week as we dig into Scotland's past and future energy wealth

Common Weal's book intelligently provides a bridge between head and heart for both undecided voters and activists.

Common Weal's book intelligently provides a bridge between head and heart for both undecided voters and activists.

2

Independence handbook imagines the first 10 years of Scotland after a Yes vote

We fact-checked Oliver Dowden's claims

We fact-checked Oliver Dowden's claims

Conservative Party

Does new Tory strike legislation really bring us into line with Europe?

We Fact Check Robert Jenrick's claim about Scotland's share of asylum seekers

We Fact Check Robert Jenrick's claim about Scotland's share of asylum seekers

5

FACT CHECK: Is Scotland taking in its fair share of asylum seekers?

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has been accused of sharing misleading figures over trade

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has been accused of sharing misleading figures over trade

19

Michael Gove caught out sharing 'misleading' claim over post-Brexit trade deals

Rishi Sunak has been caught in a dodgy stat attack on Scotland over crime rates

Rishi Sunak has been caught in a dodgy stat attack on Scotland over crime rates

Conservative Party

25

FACT CHECK: Rishi Sunak claims Scottish crime on the rise

We've fact-cheacked economist Sir John Kay's claims about Scottish independence

We've fact-cheacked economist Sir John Kay's claims about Scottish independence

6

FACT CHECK: Claim independent Scotland is destined for a currency 'fiasco'

Tourists outside Buckingham Palace. File photo.

Tourists outside Buckingham Palace. File photo.

9

FACT CHECK: Does the monarchy really pay its way?

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have both been hit with fines for breaking the law

Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak have both been hit with fines for breaking the law

1

Were Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak issued with SIX fines for partygate?

Would Babcock International retreat from Rosyth?

Would Babcock International retreat from Rosyth?

9

FACT CHECK: Babcock's CEO's claim on Scottish independence affecting business

Former Labour minister Jack Straw claimed that the SNP government in Scotland takes 'more money from English taxpayers than English taxpayers get for themselves'

Former Labour minister Jack Straw claimed that the SNP government in Scotland takes 'more money from English taxpayers than English taxpayers get for themselves'

23

FACT CHECK: Jack Straw's claim Scotland 'takes money' from English taxpayers

Guido Fawkes tried to fact check an SNP claim about the prevalence of Covid-19 in England and Scotland - and just embarrassed itself

Guido Fawkes tried to fact check an SNP claim about the prevalence of Covid-19 in England and Scotland - and just embarrassed itself

14

Right-wing blog's SNP 'fact check' gets fact checked - and the result is embarrassing