Full Fact works: The Sun corrects inaccurate story

Back in February, Full Fact alerted four national newspapers to inaccuracies in their reports which claimed that life expectancy in one South Wales estate was lower than "earthquake-hit Haiti or war-torn Iraq."

The Mirror, Mail, Telegraph and Sun all reported that male life expectancy on the Gurnos estate in Merthyr Tydfil was 58.8 years, when in fact this figure referred to healthy life expectancy; the length of time men could expect to retain good health. The actual life expectancy for men was closer to 70 years, above both Iraq and Haiti.

Since then, three of the newspapers have offered to print corrections. The Mail and Mirror were quickest to acknowledge the error and correct the record, although both took over a month to do so. The Telegraph followed suit soon after, and today Full Fact is pleased to report that the Sun has agreed to print its own correction.

This comes after nearly two months of negotiations carried out through the Press Complaints Commission. The correction will appear as follows:

"OUR article (February 12) stated life expectancy on the Gurnos estate in Merthyr Tydfil was 58.8 years. In fact, this refers to healthy life expectancy and the average life expectancy is 70 years, which is not lower than Iraq or Haiti as we reported."

Whilst we are pleased to have finally set the record straight on this story, we are concerned that the length of time taken to reach this point may have allowed a misleading claim to entrench itself in the minds readers of the Sun. We will therefore be pressing for speedier resolutions to complaints in the future.