Fact

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that there are “record numbers of people in work”.

At PMQs a week later, on 3 May, Labour MP Stephen Timms highlighted the PM’s mistake, pointing out that he had been out by a figure of more than 100,000. He said, “In fact, as [Sunak] knows, the number of people in work at the moment is still less than it was just before the pandemic - 122,792 less according to the latest official figures.”

Sunak admitted to the error assuring Timms that the “clarification had already been made”. 

Sunak sent a letter of correction. The record now reads “The record is clear. Look at it right now: near record numbers of people in work”. 

Verdict

Rishi Sunak was misleading parliament when he informed MPs that there were “record numbers of people in work”. To his credit he issued a letter of correction. While this is welcome, there are many other cases, highlighted in this website, where Rishi Sunak has made false or misleading statements which lie uncorrected on the Hansard record. 

We emailed Rishi Sunak’s office and Number 10 offering him the chance to respond. The email was received, but no reply.