At MarketUK.uk, accuracy and trust are foundational to our journalism. Our fact-checking policy outlines the rigorous standards we apply to all content published on our platform. This policy is managed by our Editorial Team and enforced by our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, Sophie Kendall. It operates in conjunction with our Editorial Policy and Corrections Policy.
What We Verify Before Publication
We are committed to verifying all substantive claims, figures, and assertions before an article is published. The scope of our verification includes, but is not limited to:
- Company results and financial figures: Revenue, profit, earnings per share, debt levels, and other financial metrics reported by public and private companies.
- Market data and economic indicators: GDP growth, inflation rates, unemployment figures, trade balances, and indices such as the FTSE 100 or housing price data.
- Tax information and interest rates: All references to tax bands, allowances, thresholds, Bank of England base rates, and market lending rates.
- Banking products, insurance claims, pensions, and savings claims: Product terms, conditions, interest rates, and policy details are cross-checked against official provider documentation or regulatory filings.
- Consumer rights and legal disputes: Claims regarding consumer protection law, court rulings, or regulatory outcomes are verified against official government or judiciary records.
- Allegations and public safety concerns: Any allegation of improper conduct or risks to public safety is handled with the highest level of scrutiny, requiring corroboration from multiple reliable sources.
- Public companies and brand partnerships: Corporate announcements, partnership deals, and product launches are checked against official press releases or stock exchange filings.
- Financial product claims: Any assertion about the performance, risk, or features of an investment, mortgage, or insurance product is confirmed using official product literature or independent data sources.
Source Hierarchy and Verification Standards
Our reporting relies on a clear hierarchy of source reliability. We give precedence to:
- Primary official sources: Official company statements, regulatory filings, Companies House information, public records, official statistics compiled by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), data from the Bank of England, and statements from regulators such as the Financial Conduct Authority or the Competition and Markets Authority.
- Legal and judicial documents: Court orders, case judgments, tribunal rulings, and official court records.
- Direct interviews and company briefings: Information gathered directly by our journalists from named sources, with consent for attribution, is treated as a primary source.
- Verified public social media posts: Posts from verified official accounts of companies, government bodies, or public figures may be used as a source, but only when the information can be cross-referenced with another reliable source.
We apply these standards to all editorial content, including news articles, market explainers, consumer guides, and opinion pieces. For further detail on our approach to reporting business and markets, please see our Business & Markets Reporting Policy.
Handling Rumours and Speculation
MarketUK.uk never presents rumours or speculation as established fact. Any unconfirmed information included in our reporting is explicitly labelled as such, with clear qualification (e.g., “sources indicate”, “according to unverified reports”). If a rumour is reported for its news value or market impact, we always state the basis of the rumour and the level of corroboration. We will not publish a story based primarily on anonymous speculation.
Anonymous Sourcing
We avoid the use of anonymous sources unless there is a clear and compelling editorial reason to do so, such as protecting a whistleblower, a source facing retaliation, or a source who may only speak safely on a matter of serious public interest. In all such cases, the decision to grant anonymity is made by the Editor-in-Chief or the Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, and the existence of the source must be verified by at least one senior editor. Readers can trust that any information attributed to an anonymous source has been responsibly verified.
Sensitive Articles and Internal Review
Articles that involve serious allegations, significant financial claims, matters of public safety, or potential reputational harm to individuals or organisations are flagged for review by our Standards & Fact-Checking Lead, Sophie Kendall, before publication. This review ensures that all sourcing is robust, claims are substantiated, and the editorial process has been followed correctly.
Reader Reports and Contact
We value the role of our readers in helping us maintain accuracy. If you believe an error has been published or wish to report a potential factual inaccuracy, please contact us at factcheck@marketuk.uk. All reports are reviewed by the editorial team, and any confirmed errors are addressed in line with our Corrections Policy.