Leo Benedictus

Journalist

Leo joined Full Fact in January 2020. For 15 years, he worked freelance as a feature writer for the Guardian, Prospect, the New Scientist and others, making maps of immigration, explaining citizens’ assemblies and debunking superfoods. He has a fondness for science and statistics. He also writes novels.

10 April 2024

There was no rise in the stillbirth risk in the US in 2021

The rate actually fell slightly, according to official data.

3 April 2024

HPV vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective

They have been proven to be very effective at reducing the risk of some cancers in later life, and a large body of evidence shows that they are safe.

14 March 2024

You do not inhale a credit card’s worth of microplastic every week

This misunderstanding traces back to a scientific paper that said no such thing.

11 March 2024

NHS England was wrong to claim its data showed 3.4 million children are ‘unprotected’ against measles

It seems the health service actually calculated that 3.4 million children might have missed at least one vaccine dose.

29 February 2024

Junior doctors do not earn £140 in ten hours

This was about the hourly rate of basic pay only, for first-year doctors only, last year.

27 February 2024

Raw milk doesn’t make it easier to digest lactose

It may also contain harmful pathogens, so people with weaker immune systems are advised not to consume it.

21 February 2024

The NHS Covid-19 app didn’t cost £37 billion

An old myth that the NHS Covid app cost £37 billion has resurfaced. In fact, that’s the budget for the first two years of the entire Test and Trace programme.