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← All fact checksAfternoon run · October 14, 2026 · #5 by reach
EconomyPoliticsStatistic

Did Britain outgrow France and Germany since Brexit?

Has Britain's economy grown faster than France's and Germany's since Brexit, as Liz Truss claims?

True, but…

The claim is partly true but needs important context.

The UK's economy has indeed shown faster growth than those of France and Germany since Brexit. However, this relies on specific growth metrics that lack context.

Sources ↓Original post ↗
Likely genuine
The post as it circulated, labelled by our media check.Video · 1:53 · 1080×1920

Claims

1 checked

Britain has outgrown France and Germany since Brexit.12

~ Partly trueCentral claimModerate confidence

The claim regarding the UK's economy outgrowing France and Germany since Brexit is backed by parliamentary data. It cites cumulative growth figures of 7.9% for the UK compared to 6.8% for France and 1.1% for Germany from 2021 onwards. However, the statement lacks key context, such as other growth metrics (per capita versus total growth) and differing interpretations, which are necessary to fully assess its accuracy. Therefore, while the numbers support the assertion, it remains incomplete without further analysis.

What was posted

X

The video features commentary by Liz Truss concerning the UK's economic growth compared to France and Germany since Brexit, along with political rhetoric about Labour's policies.

“Britain has outgrown France and Germany since Brexit. Yet Labour is determined to drag us backwards. We should be using our Brexit freedoms to slash regulations, take back control of our borders, leave the ECHR and rebuild Britain.”

Who posted it

X
@trussliz

Account 17 years old

View the account on X ↗

Account check

Looks like a genuine account95%
Likelihood of automation5%

Estimates from public signals — account age, posting pattern, audience — not a judgement of the person behind the account, and separate from whether this post is true.

What stood out

  • Account handle '@trussliz' matches that of Liz Truss, former UK Prime Minister.
  • Account description includes 'Sunday Times bestselling writer', 'Host of The Liz Truss Show', and 'Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom'.
  • Account joined in August 2009, aligning with Liz Truss's known public presence since that time.
  • Account has 734.2K followers and follows 2,546 accounts, indicating a significant public following.
  • Account is not verified, which is unusual for a public figure of Liz Truss's stature but not uncommon for former politicians.
Signals (3)+
Posting cadence
Not available
Follower ratio
0.29
Notable news coverage
Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss's Twitter account '@trussliz' is active and engaging with followers.

Account checked October 14, 2026, 14:59 UTC

The media

Video
Likely genuinePresented as real footage

✓ What is genuine

The video shows a genuine interview excerpt, as indicated by physical cues such as the microphone and watermark.

The tells

  • ●●● Strong signal The video shows clear recording artefacts, such as a branded microphone and event watermark.our visual review
  • ●●○ Supporting signal The content was presented as an authentic public statement.our visual review

Synthetic-media detector

Detector not consulted

The media is incidental to the claim; the detector was not needed.

How we checked the media

  • Examined the visual elements of the video for signs of manipulation.
  • Identified the presence of a CPAC Great Britain watermark and a microphone branded by The Telegraph.
  • Noted that the footage appears consistent with real-world settings and events.

Sources

3 sources reviewed

Further reading

The full story

The claim that Britain has outgrown France and Germany since Brexit hinges on specific growth metrics recorded since 2021. According to parliamentary records, the UK economy grew by 7.9% during this period, slightly outperforming France at 6.8% and Germany at just 1.1%. However, the context in which these figures are presented was notably omitted. Different methods of calculating growth, such as real versus per capita measures, can yield vastly different interpretations of economic performance. Additionally, studies suggest that Brexit has negatively impacted GDP growth in the UK over the longer term, thus complicating the narrative around this claim. The statement encapsulates a complex economic issue that cannot be fully understood through selective numeric comparisons alone.

Kernel of truth

The assertion that the UK economy has experienced growth since Brexit is corroborated by parliamentary reports.

How it was framed

Misleading contentFalse connection

The video presents a selective interpretation of economic growth figures while omitting critical contextual factors.

  • Missing context. The claim omits crucial details regarding the methodology and time frame of the growth figures.
  • Selective evidence. Focuses only on cumulative growth without discussing alternative growth metrics.

The content was posted on Twitter by a political figure, highlighting specific economic growth metrics as part of a broader political narrative.

Bias

NoneSlightModerateStrong

Leans pro-Brexit / anti-Labour. The post’s caption frames the UK’s post-Brexit performance positively and criticises Labour; the video excerpt and added captions emphasise arguments that support using 'Brexit freedoms' and abandoning European conventions. That combination advances a clear political viewpoint.

Bias describes how the post frames its message — the slant of the language, selection and emphasis — and is judged separately from whether the claim is true. A true claim can still be framed with a strong slant.

How we checked

1 min 6 s
  1. 1

    Reviewed the video content to establish authenticity and visual characteristics.

  2. 2

    Conducted searches for corresponding statistics and claims made in the video.

  3. 3

    Checked parliamentary records for referenced growth figures and their context.

✓ Claim checked✓ Media checked✓ Sources checked

Why 65% confidence

Moderate

The confidence band is moderate due to the mix of corroboration and lack of comprehensive context across all metrics.

Limits. The evaluation could not retrieve all relevant economic data from external sources.

Spot it yourself

Find the overstatement

Looks suspicious, isn’t proof

  • The posting was by a political figure, which may bias the information presented.
  • The tone is alarmist, framing the issue as a critical political struggle rather than a neutral economic report.
  • The video uses selective growth data to support a political agenda.

The actual evidence

  • The UK recorded a cumulative economic growth of 7.9% since Brexit compared to 6.8% and 1.1% for France and Germany, cited in parliamentary records.
  • The claim lacks context regarding how growth is measured, which can significantly impact its interpretation.
  1. 1

    Check the source of claims regarding economic statistics.

    Independent verification from reputable economic organizations like the ONS or IMF can provide clarity.

  2. 2

    Examine if only selective metrics are being cited.

    Assess whether the claim includes other relevant data, such as per capita growth or broader economic impacts.

  3. 3

    Consider the timing and relevance of presented data.

    Make sure that the growth figures apply to the correct time frame and conditions suitable for comparison.

Takeaway

Always look for missing context and alternative perspectives when evaluating economic claims. Critical thinking is key in distinguishing between fact and political rhetoric.

Questions people ask

What does the claim about the UK economy since Brexit reflect?+

The claim suggests the UK's economy has performed better than France's and Germany's since Brexit, supported by specific growth statistics mentioned in parliamentary records.

Why is context important when assessing economic claims?+

Context helps clarify the relevance of statistics and exposes limitations in the data being presented, ensuring a more accurate understanding of economic performance.

What are the possible implications of the claim being partly true?+

If the claim is partly true, it indicates that while there may be growth, other factors or metrics might lead to different conclusions about overall economic health.

Go deeper

Cumulative growth
The total increase in value over a set time period, often expressed as a percentage.
Economic metrics
Quantitative measures used to assess the economic performance of a region or country.
Per capita growth
Economic growth measured per individual, which can provide a different perspective compared to total growth.

People also search for

How has Brexit affected UK economy compared to France and Germany?UK growth since BrexitBrexit impact on UK economic growthIs the UK economy growing faster than France and Germany after Brexit?UK economic growth vs France and Germany 2021
For educators+
The importance of context in economic reporting.How to critically evaluate political statements regarding statistics.Understanding the implications of the narrative surrounding economic measures.
  • How can selective presentation of data lead to misinformation?
  • In what ways can economic claims influence public policy?
  • What methods can be used to verify the authenticity of economic data?

About this check

Platform
X
Posted by
@trussliz
Posted
October 13, 2026
Age when checked
1–2 days old when checked
Where it spread
United Kingdom
Audience
UK & EU audience
Language
EN
Status
● Post is live
Verified
October 14, 2026, 15:00 UTC
Published
October 14, 2026, 15:00 UTC

Reach. ~2.9K likes, 253 replies; part of the live row over the Burnham government Brexit reset

This verdict was generated with AI from the sources shown. AI can make mistakes — check the sources before relying on it.

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