The Guardian newspaper has issued a series of corrections and clarifications, addressing significant errors in a recent government spending chart and an obituary for a notable architect.
Substantial Error in Government Finance Chart
In a report on the state of the nation's finances, a chart detailing government expenditure contained a major mislabelling. The visual incorrectly attributed £400 billion to "income tax". The Guardian has clarified that this substantial sum should in fact have been labelled as social protection spending.
Furthermore, the same chart, which accompanied a story headlined 'OBR warns public finances remain vulnerable despite increased fiscal headroom' on 27 November, committed an error of omission. It completely left out a significant £62 billion in costs allocated for public order and safety. These corrections are crucial for an accurate public understanding of the budget breakdown presented by the Office for Budget Responsibility.
Amendment to Christopher Mullan's Obituary
A separate correction concerns the obituary of the respected architect Christopher Mullan, published in the Other Lives section on 21 November. The original article mistakenly gave his mother's original surname as "Sharpe". The newspaper has now confirmed that her correct maiden name was McCullagh.
Other Recently Amended Articles
The publication's regular corrections column also listed several other articles that have been recently updated. These include:
- Reports on GB News being urged to cut ties with a contributor accused of racism.
- The Metropolitan Police facing a new 'Casey 2' inquiry.
- Features on male infertility, bespoke beers for an Australian PM's wedding, and the death of Joan Templeman, wife of Sir Richard Branson.
- An analysis questioning the historical diagnosis of JMW Turner's mother.
- Budget 2025 explainers and a study into fatalities linked to an Afghan data leak.
- An article on Romania's popular deposit return scheme and an obituary for Jill Freud.
The Guardian has reiterated its commitment to accuracy, providing clear channels for readers to report concerns. Editorial complaints and correction requests can be sent via email to guardian.readers@theguardian.com.
Alternatively, readers can write to the Readers’ editor at Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU, or leave a voicemail on +44 (0)20 3353 4736.
