Ben Chu
@benchu.bsky.social
Policy and analysis correspondent, BBC Verify.
https://www.benchu.co.uk/
Author of "Exile Economics: What Happens if Globalisation Fails", published May 2025
https://linktr.ee/exileeconomics
https://www.benchu.co.uk/
Author of "Exile Economics: What Happens if Globalisation Fails", published May 2025
https://linktr.ee/exileeconomics
Pinned
Ben Chu
@benchu.bsky.social
· Oct 20
The Tax Conundrum - Episode 1: The Problem - BBC Sounds
What's wrong with our tax system?
www.bbc.co.uk
Why do we seem to find it so hard to have a rational conversation about how MUCH we pay in tax and HOW we pay it?
I'm exploring that in a new 3 part series for BBC Radio 4.
Episode 1 of The Tax Conundrum available here 🎧👇...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
I'm exploring that in a new 3 part series for BBC Radio 4.
Episode 1 of The Tax Conundrum available here 🎧👇...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Nigel Farage has been making the incorrect claim that "one million people living in this country don't speak any English at all"
Facts here 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1...
Facts here 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1...
February 13, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Nigel Farage has been making the incorrect claim that "one million people living in this country don't speak any English at all"
Facts here 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1...
Facts here 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c1...
Fact check from me on BBC Sounds on Sir Jim Ratcliffe's claims on
- population
- immigration
- benefits
- energy
📻👇...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
- population
- immigration
- benefits
- energy
📻👇...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
BBC Verify on Jim Ratcliffe's claims about immigration - BBC Sounds
Sir Jim said he was sorry his ‘choice of language had offended some people’.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Fact check from me on BBC Sounds on Sir Jim Ratcliffe's claims on
- population
- immigration
- benefits
- energy
📻👇...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
- population
- immigration
- benefits
- energy
📻👇...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
When were the contacts between Mandelson and Epstein - and when did Keir Starmer know about them?
My Verify analysis about what the documents show us about the timeline 📺 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg...
My Verify analysis about what the documents show us about the timeline 📺 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg...
BBC Verify: Wrong date on draft Epstein death statement a typo, US officials tell BBC Verify
Latest updates from the BBC's specialists in fact-checking, verifying video and tackling disinformation.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 10, 2026 at 1:38 PM
When were the contacts between Mandelson and Epstein - and when did Keir Starmer know about them?
My Verify analysis about what the documents show us about the timeline 📺 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg...
My Verify analysis about what the documents show us about the timeline 📺 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cg...
Reposted by Ben Chu
BBC Verify is trying to show the world (a) how we know what we know, and (b) how you can do it, too.
Always needs a team.
Here's a crash course, using examples from @shayan86.bsky.social, @paulybrown.bsky.social, @emmapengelly.bsky.social, @sryder.bsky.social and @danict89.bsky.social.
Always needs a team.
Here's a crash course, using examples from @shayan86.bsky.social, @paulybrown.bsky.social, @emmapengelly.bsky.social, @sryder.bsky.social and @danict89.bsky.social.
January 27, 2026 at 1:48 PM
BBC Verify is trying to show the world (a) how we know what we know, and (b) how you can do it, too.
Always needs a team.
Here's a crash course, using examples from @shayan86.bsky.social, @paulybrown.bsky.social, @emmapengelly.bsky.social, @sryder.bsky.social and @danict89.bsky.social.
Always needs a team.
Here's a crash course, using examples from @shayan86.bsky.social, @paulybrown.bsky.social, @emmapengelly.bsky.social, @sryder.bsky.social and @danict89.bsky.social.
Reposted by Ben Chu
Reposting to share we've posted the video on YouTube (should you wish to go to a separate social media platform to see it): www.youtube.com/shorts/nodpN...
February 2, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Reposting to share we've posted the video on YouTube (should you wish to go to a separate social media platform to see it): www.youtube.com/shorts/nodpN...
Bad Influence is a brilliant new book by @debscohen.bsky.social - I’m learning so much about the impact of the internet on people’s perceptions of their health - disturbing and eye opening
February 1, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Bad Influence is a brilliant new book by @debscohen.bsky.social - I’m learning so much about the impact of the internet on people’s perceptions of their health - disturbing and eye opening
Reposted by Ben Chu
Weekend plug for my new personal post: Why does regulation often feel so toothless?
Sometimes regulators are just useless, but more often the problem is that governments don’t give them the tools or the powers to deter bad behaviour
Sometimes regulators are just useless, but more often the problem is that governments don’t give them the tools or the powers to deter bad behaviour
Why does regulation often feel so toothless?
A sewage outfall pipe in the River Solway, Cumbria, with (probably) a regulator in the background. Photo by John Collins
acjsissons.medium.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:02 AM
Weekend plug for my new personal post: Why does regulation often feel so toothless?
Sometimes regulators are just useless, but more often the problem is that governments don’t give them the tools or the powers to deter bad behaviour
Sometimes regulators are just useless, but more often the problem is that governments don’t give them the tools or the powers to deter bad behaviour
Regarding the debate over whether the English student loan system is "progressive" or "regressive" it's worth noting IFS calculations suggest over the lifetime of existing graduates (on Plan 2 loans), the highest earners will pay more than those in the middle & much more than the lowest earners...
January 29, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Regarding the debate over whether the English student loan system is "progressive" or "regressive" it's worth noting IFS calculations suggest over the lifetime of existing graduates (on Plan 2 loans), the highest earners will pay more than those in the middle & much more than the lowest earners...
Some tentative signs of a pick-up in new home delivery in England from the latest official data (based on Energy Performance Certificates lodged in the second half of 2025)
Though still some way short of the delivery rate needed to hit the 1.5 million target for the Parliament...
Though still some way short of the delivery rate needed to hit the 1.5 million target for the Parliament...
January 29, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Some tentative signs of a pick-up in new home delivery in England from the latest official data (based on Energy Performance Certificates lodged in the second half of 2025)
Though still some way short of the delivery rate needed to hit the 1.5 million target for the Parliament...
Though still some way short of the delivery rate needed to hit the 1.5 million target for the Parliament...
Reposted by Ben Chu
Very excited to be part of launching Verify on Tour! This nationwide outreach initiative is designed to help young people develop essential skills and knowledge to navigate the world of digital media. We deliver events both in-person and virtually for schools, colleges, and sixth forms.
January 29, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Very excited to be part of launching Verify on Tour! This nationwide outreach initiative is designed to help young people develop essential skills and knowledge to navigate the world of digital media. We deliver events both in-person and virtually for schools, colleges, and sixth forms.
Some context for the Yvette Cooper interview on Radio 4 Today this morning 👇
Will the Chagos deal cost the UK £3.4bn or £35bn?
My analysis on the BBC website...👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp...
My analysis on the BBC website...👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp...
January 22, 2026 at 12:39 PM
Some context for the Yvette Cooper interview on Radio 4 Today this morning 👇
Reposted by Ben Chu
Does EU and US trade account for a third of global trade?
I’ve seen this claim made a couple of times and I snagged on it because it sounds high.
Having looked into it, I think that statement is potentially misleading.
Thread...1/
I’ve seen this claim made a couple of times and I snagged on it because it sounds high.
Having looked into it, I think that statement is potentially misleading.
Thread...1/
January 21, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Does EU and US trade account for a third of global trade?
I’ve seen this claim made a couple of times and I snagged on it because it sounds high.
Having looked into it, I think that statement is potentially misleading.
Thread...1/
I’ve seen this claim made a couple of times and I snagged on it because it sounds high.
Having looked into it, I think that statement is potentially misleading.
Thread...1/
Likely source of Trump's claim the UK is producing a third of the total energy as it was in 1999: UK energy stats "Availability and consumption of primary fuels and equivalents" - 94k thousand tonnes of oil equivalent in 2024 vs 297k in 1999 (-70%)... www.gov.uk/government/s...
January 21, 2026 at 2:53 PM
Likely source of Trump's claim the UK is producing a third of the total energy as it was in 1999: UK energy stats "Availability and consumption of primary fuels and equivalents" - 94k thousand tonnes of oil equivalent in 2024 vs 297k in 1999 (-70%)... www.gov.uk/government/s...
Trump tells Davos "China makes almost all of the windmills and yet I haven't been able to find any windfarms in China"
IRENASTAT data shows China had 479GW of onshore wind capacity in 2024 & 41GW of offshore wind capacity
pxweb.irena.org/pxweb/en/IRE...
IRENASTAT data shows China had 479GW of onshore wind capacity in 2024 & 41GW of offshore wind capacity
pxweb.irena.org/pxweb/en/IRE...
January 21, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Trump tells Davos "China makes almost all of the windmills and yet I haven't been able to find any windfarms in China"
IRENASTAT data shows China had 479GW of onshore wind capacity in 2024 & 41GW of offshore wind capacity
pxweb.irena.org/pxweb/en/IRE...
IRENASTAT data shows China had 479GW of onshore wind capacity in 2024 & 41GW of offshore wind capacity
pxweb.irena.org/pxweb/en/IRE...
DonaldTrump tells Davos the US gas price is "now below $2.50 in many states, $2.30 in most states"
The latest data from the US EIA shows the US average was $2.779 on 12 Jan 2026: www.eia.gov/petroleum/ga...
The latest data from the US EIA shows the US average was $2.779 on 12 Jan 2026: www.eia.gov/petroleum/ga...
January 21, 2026 at 1:56 PM
DonaldTrump tells Davos the US gas price is "now below $2.50 in many states, $2.30 in most states"
The latest data from the US EIA shows the US average was $2.779 on 12 Jan 2026: www.eia.gov/petroleum/ga...
The latest data from the US EIA shows the US average was $2.779 on 12 Jan 2026: www.eia.gov/petroleum/ga...
Does EU and US trade account for a third of global trade?
I’ve seen this claim made a couple of times and I snagged on it because it sounds high.
Having looked into it, I think that statement is potentially misleading.
Thread...1/
I’ve seen this claim made a couple of times and I snagged on it because it sounds high.
Having looked into it, I think that statement is potentially misleading.
Thread...1/
January 21, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Does EU and US trade account for a third of global trade?
I’ve seen this claim made a couple of times and I snagged on it because it sounds high.
Having looked into it, I think that statement is potentially misleading.
Thread...1/
I’ve seen this claim made a couple of times and I snagged on it because it sounds high.
Having looked into it, I think that statement is potentially misleading.
Thread...1/
This section from Mark Carney's speech in Davos sums up perfectly the global trend I describe in my book Exile Economics: What Happens If Globalisation Fails... paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney...
January 20, 2026 at 4:30 PM
This section from Mark Carney's speech in Davos sums up perfectly the global trend I describe in my book Exile Economics: What Happens If Globalisation Fails... paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney...
Will the Chagos deal cost the UK £3.4bn or £35bn?
My analysis on the BBC website...👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp...
My analysis on the BBC website...👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp...
January 20, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Will the Chagos deal cost the UK £3.4bn or £35bn?
My analysis on the BBC website...👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp...
My analysis on the BBC website...👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp...
The UK-Mauritius deal over the Chagos islands is in the news again.
The focus is on its geopolitical/security merits - but here's some analysis on the costs of the deal we did last year 👇
The focus is on its geopolitical/security merits - but here's some analysis on the costs of the deal we did last year 👇
How much is the Chagos deal *really* going to cost the UK?
£3.4bn or £35bn?
💵
This is a complex one - but worth unpacking.
Longish thread..🧵1/22
£3.4bn or £35bn?
💵
This is a complex one - but worth unpacking.
Longish thread..🧵1/22
January 20, 2026 at 1:34 PM
The UK-Mauritius deal over the Chagos islands is in the news again.
The focus is on its geopolitical/security merits - but here's some analysis on the costs of the deal we did last year 👇
The focus is on its geopolitical/security merits - but here's some analysis on the costs of the deal we did last year 👇
Reposted by Ben Chu
Also @benchu.bsky.social very presciently wrote a whole book, Exile Economics, on this topic…
www.goodreads.com/book/show/22...
www.goodreads.com/book/show/22...
Exile Economics: What Happens if Globalisation Fails
THE MUST-READ GUIDE TO THE TRADE WAR'A smart, vivid and…
www.goodreads.com
January 18, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Also @benchu.bsky.social very presciently wrote a whole book, Exile Economics, on this topic…
www.goodreads.com/book/show/22...
www.goodreads.com/book/show/22...
Will more offshore windpower drive up household energy bills?
Watch my analysis here 📺👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cz...
Watch my analysis here 📺👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cz...
BBC Verify: Fact-checking Trump's claims about inflation and US economic growth
Latest updates from the BBC's specialists in fact-checking, verifying video and tackling disinformation.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 14, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Will more offshore windpower drive up household energy bills?
Watch my analysis here 📺👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cz...
Watch my analysis here 📺👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cz...
Many thanks to the Next Big Idea Club team for selecting my book, Exile Economics, as one of its monthly must-reads.
You can listen to me reading 5 key insights from the book here 🎧👇
nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/sho...
You can listen to me reading 5 key insights from the book here 🎧👇
nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/sho...
Why We Shouldn’t Give Up on Globalisation—We Just Need to Do It Better
Author Ben Chu shares 5 key insights from his new book, Exile Economics: What Happens if Globalisation Fails.
nextbigideaclub.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Many thanks to the Next Big Idea Club team for selecting my book, Exile Economics, as one of its monthly must-reads.
You can listen to me reading 5 key insights from the book here 🎧👇
nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/sho...
You can listen to me reading 5 key insights from the book here 🎧👇
nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/sho...
Regarding Trump's 25% US tariff on any country "doing business with Iran" - here's Iran's top 10 export trading partners in 2023...
January 13, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Regarding Trump's 25% US tariff on any country "doing business with Iran" - here's Iran's top 10 export trading partners in 2023...
Regarding the debate on BBC Politics Live just now about the government's jobs market record, according to the Office for National Statistics' Labour Force Survey it's the case that both unemployment AND employment have recorded as having risen since Labour took office...
January 7, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Regarding the debate on BBC Politics Live just now about the government's jobs market record, according to the Office for National Statistics' Labour Force Survey it's the case that both unemployment AND employment have recorded as having risen since Labour took office...
How much will the watering down of the government's farming inheritance tax changes cost?
When it unveiled the original reforms in the 2024 Budget, HMT estimated they would raise £230m in 2026/27, rising to £520m in 2029/30...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/672b98...
When it unveiled the original reforms in the 2024 Budget, HMT estimated they would raise £230m in 2026/27, rising to £520m in 2029/30...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/672b98...
December 23, 2025 at 3:02 PM
How much will the watering down of the government's farming inheritance tax changes cost?
When it unveiled the original reforms in the 2024 Budget, HMT estimated they would raise £230m in 2026/27, rising to £520m in 2029/30...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/672b98...
When it unveiled the original reforms in the 2024 Budget, HMT estimated they would raise £230m in 2026/27, rising to £520m in 2029/30...
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/672b98...