UK growth, prisons and Swiftonomics

More or Less: Behind the Stats

BBC

Business, Mathematics, Science, News Commentary, News

4.6 • 3.5K Ratings

🗓️ 29 May 2024

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that the UK economy is growing faster than Germany, France and the US, while Labour says the typical household in the UK is worse off by £5,883 since 2019. Are these claims fair? We give some needed context.

Net migration has fallen - we talk to someone who predicted it would - Dr Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford.

Is Taylor Swift about to add £1 bn to the British economy as some media outlets have claimed? The answer is ‘No’.

Why are our prisons full? We ask Cassia Rowland from the Institute for Government.

Presenter: Tim Harford Producers: Charlotte McDonald, Nathan Gower, Bethan Ashmead Latham and Ellie House Series producer: Tom Colls Sound mix: Neil Churchill Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Richard Vadon

Transcript

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0:00.0	Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of
0:07.0	Happiness Podcast.
0:08.0	For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want
0:14.4	to share that science with you.
0:16.1	And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley.
0:19.4	I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that
0:25.4	calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds.
0:30.3	BBC Sounds, music, radio podcasts.
0:36.2	Hello and welcome to your statistical guide to the galaxy, more or less.
0:41.0	Is it really just a week since Rishi Sunak called an election?
0:45.0	Since then, we've seen numbers you people wouldn't believe.
0:50.0	Net migration falling by 10%. Taylor Swift, glittering in the darkness, and according to one
0:57.5	banks press release adding a much needed billion pounds to the British economy.
1:02.1	Prisoners being released early because the
1:04.4	prison system is within 1% of maximum capacity.
1:08.8	All these numbers will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
1:14.1	Unless of course you listen again to the program on BBC Sounds.
1:17.6	Before all that, let's look at the economy.
1:20.8	Rishi Sunak, who at the time of recording is the Prime Minister, recently informed
1:25.1	the country in general and then Radio 4 listeners in particular that...
1:28.7	Our economy is now growing faster than anyone predicted, outpacing Germany, France and the United States.
1:35.2	The economy is growing faster than our major competitors.
	...

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