Facts

Boris Johnson gave a personal guarantee promising 50,000 more nurses, with his signature attached for extra emphasis, in the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto. 

He was obliged to admit the figure was a fabrication when challenged by Sophy Ridge on Sunday 8th December 2019- less than three weeks after the manifesto was published. He and his ministers have continued to use the figure since, despite Johnson’s admission that it is false. 

Verdict

Johnson had admitted that the 50,000 nurses figure was an exaggeration, and that the true figure was 31,000, in the interview with Sophy Ridge on 8th December 2019. Despite this admission, he and his ministers have continued to use the 50,000 regardless.

Johnson’s use of the figure in his address to the Conservative Party membership must unambiguously be regarded as a lie. Not only was the figure in itself misleading, but the Sophie Ridge interview proves that Johnson actually knew it was misleading. For more examples of Johnson and his ministers claiming that there would be 50,000 more nurses see here, here, here and here.