Please watch out for Express excesses

Now that there is no independent oversight of the Daily Express , following its owner, Richard Desmond , having turned his back on the Press Complaints Commission , it is even more important than usual to maintain a close watch on the paper. One site, fullfact.org, has pledged to step up its scrutiny. We can expect Tabloid Watch to continue its work. And I'll do my best to highlight falsehoods in the Express, Daily Star and its sister Sunday titles. So here's the first example. On 10 January, the Express reported that "official figures show that 99.1% of working-age adults" who live in Cottsmeadow Estate in Washwood Heath, Birmingham, "pocket some sort of benefit every week." No such "official figures" exist. It appears that the paper has spun a dodgy News of the World story from the day before to breaking point ( See fullfact.org's penetrating and sober analysis of both stories ). The Screws and the Sexpress - what a winning combination!