Perceptions, power, and polarisation: the political impact of UK fact-checking | Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism

Recent decisions by Meta and Google have stirred debate about the role of fact-checking in combating misinformation, its alleged political biases, and its place in democratic discourse. Fact-checking organisations in the UK work hard to uphold political accountability, but do these efforts resonate with the political elite and impact their behaviour? Or are these efforts primarily a tool to help audiences navigate a labyrinth of contestable claims and provide essential context? Through interviews with UK politicians, strategists, and advisers spanning administrations from Tony Blair to Rishi Sunak, this fellowship project investigates whether fact-checking changes how politicians craft and deliver their messages.