Facts

Johnson asserted that more people were in work, by June 2022, than prior to the Covid pandemic. This is incorrect. 

Figures from the Office of National Statistics show that, in the period from December 2019 to February 2020 there were around 33million people in employment. In the most recent figures provided by the ONS, referring to the period February-April 2022, there were around 32.7million people employed. This is a decrease. Darren Morgan, the  ONS’  Director of Economic Statistics stated ‘total employment.. remains below its pre-pandemic level’. 

Verdict

There are fewer people in employment in the most recent period covered by the ONS than in the period preceding the pandemic. 

Downing Street has been told by the head of the UK Statistics Authority, Ed Humpherson, that ‘it is inaccurate to state that there are now more people in work than at the end of this period than the start'. Despite this, the claim has been repeated often by the Prime Minister and others. 

In view of the Ed Humperson letter we take the view that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was lying.

We emailed Boris Johnson's office offering him the chance to respond. The email was received, but no reply.