The real FactWatch: Testing the key claims made by Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn in last night's ITV debate

Elections are a time of claim and counter-claim. Throughout the 2019 campaign the Evening Standard and factchecking organisation FullFact will be testing some of those statements in our FactWatch column and delivering the verdict whether they are right or wrong

Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) and Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn on ITV

AFP via Getty Images

20 November 2019

Today is a special edition of our daily Fact Watch column with independent analysis by Full Fact of the key claims made in last night’s debate.

Brexit

Claim: Jeremy Corbyn said Boris Johnson’s proposed trade deal with the USA would take “seven years” to negotiate.

Verdict: We have not seen any robust predictions for how long a deal would take and we do not yet know exactly what would be on the table during discussions.

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn shaking hands during the head-to-head debate

Claim: Boris Johnson denied that his Brexit deal creates a border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Verdict: Checks would have to take place on goods crossing from Great Britain into Northern Ireland if the deal is passed. This would kick in at the end of the transition period, unless or until the UK and EU sign a trade agreement superseding it.

NHS

Claim: Boris Johnson said the Tories are putting a record amount of money into the NHS — £34 billion.

Verdict: That is roughly the increase announced last year for 2018/19 to 2023/24. But it does not account for inflation — when you do that the figure is £20.5 billion, not a record amount.

Economy

Claim: Jeremy Corbyn mentioned “increasing inequality”, a common line from Labour through the campaign.

Verdict: It depends how you define inequality. Using the most common measure for income inequality, it has not changed much over the past three decade.