One of the reasons citizen media has evolved in to such a formidable (but very likeable) beast is that it recognises that the corporate media leave stuff out they don’t like or agree with. This results in bias and confusion amongst the public. This won’t go away but it can be partially redeemed by becoming empowered to find out for ourselves and to find sources that focus solely upon the facts and their analysis. With this in mind Dorset Eye has utilised a wonderful charity that does just this.
Some of the highlights this week:
1. Claim: Two thirds of manufacturing jobs, and 50,000 manufacturing apprenticeships, are reliant on Britain’s membership of the EU.
Conclusion: This is wrong. Roughly 15% of manufacturing jobs can be said to be directly linked to demand from other EU countries. That doesn’t mean these jobs are dependent on the UK being an EU member. Both claims are based on older inaccurate figures, and use flawed comparisons.
2. Claim: High levels of EU immigration mean the government hasn’t been able to cut net migration to the tens of thousands
Conclusion: Net migration from other EU countries isn’t the only reason the government hasn’t met its net migration target.
3. Claim: Changes in government energy policy since 2015 may have added £120 a year to household bills.
Conclusion: The confidence of energy investors has been shaken, according to the Energy and Climate Change Committee. If so this could raise household bills in the long term. But the specific £120 figure isn’t particularly credible.
You can join the discussion/debate on these issues and many others at https://www.facebook.com/dorset.eye and/or
https://www.facebook.com/groups/280126085520259/
AND on Twitter at @dorset_eye.
