Current UK is owned and operated by Sliema Media Limited, a company registered in Malta (C 84217). The Editor‑in‑Chief, William Ashby, holds ultimate responsibility for editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections. Every article published on this site is drafted by a named writer, reviewed by an editor and fact‑checked before it goes live. This page explains the sources, standards and procedures that underpin our reporting.
What official and primary sources do we rely on?
We base our journalism on authoritative, publicly available sources produced by the UK government, its agencies and independent public bodies. These are the primary sources we use most frequently.
- GOV.UK — The official portal for UK government departments, policy announcements, legislation, statistics and public services.
- UK Parliament — Hansard records, committee reports, bills, parliamentary debates and explanatory memoranda.
- Office for National Statistics — The UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics on the economy, population and society.
- Bank of England — Monetary policy decisions, financial stability reports, inflation data and minutes from the Monetary Policy Committee.
- Financial Conduct Authority — Regulatory decisions, consumer warnings, enforcement actions and market conduct rules.
We also routinely draw on legislation published on legislation.gov.uk, court judgments from the National Archives, and data released by the Department for Work and Pensions, the Home Office and other departments. Where a story involves a specific company or organisation, we seek its own filings, press releases or published accounts as primary evidence.
Which regulatory and standards bodies guide our work?
We adhere to the codes and decisions of the principal UK regulators that set standards for journalism, data protection, advertising and broadcasting.
- IPSO — The Independent Press Standards Organisation, which administers the Editors’ Code of Practice. Current UK is not a member of IPSO, but we follow the Code’s principles of accuracy, privacy and fairness as a benchmark.
- ICO — The Information Commissioner’s Office, which enforces data protection law (UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018). Our handling of readers’ personal data is informed by ICO guidance.
- ASA — The Advertising Standards Authority, which regulates advertisements and other marketing communications. All sponsored or commercial content on this site is labelled in line with ASA rules.
- Ofcom — The communications regulator, whose Broadcasting Code and related standards influence our approach to fairness and impartiality, even though we are a digital‑only publication.
We monitor changes in these bodies’ guidance and update our internal policies accordingly. Our fact‑checking policy and AI and automation policy are published separately and reflect current best practice.
What do we rely on day to day?
Every working day our reporters and editors consult primary sources, official databases, academic research, expert commentary and original documents. No story is published without at least two independent forms of verification where possible. Our Standards & Fact‑Checking Lead, Diane Forbes, oversees a process that includes checking direct quotes against recordings or transcripts, verifying numerical data against the original source, and ensuring that any claim attributed to a person or organisation is correctly sourced.
We use AI‑assisted tools for research, formatting, headline suggestions, translation and transcription. These tools never replace human editorial judgement. Every piece of published content is reviewed and approved by a human editor. AI must never fabricate quotes, sources, interviews, bylines, author experience or expert profiles. Our full approach is detailed in the AI and automation policy.
We also maintain a list of trusted experts and institutions whom we contact directly for comment or clarification. When a story involves complex or technical matters—such as financial regulation, medical research or legal proceedings—we seek input from qualified professionals and clearly attribute their contributions. Sponsored or commercial material is always labelled, and affiliate links are disclosed in line with our advertising and affiliate disclosure.
How can you challenge our reporting?
If you believe an article contains an error, omits important context, or breaches our editorial standards, you should contact us immediately. The quickest route is to email our Standards & Fact‑Checking Lead, Diane Forbes, at diane.forbes@currentuk.co.uk, or use the general corrections address corrections@currentuk.co.uk. We also accept complaints via the contact page.
Our corrections policy explains how we handle mistakes: we will correct the record promptly, add a note to the article explaining what changed and why, and update any syndicated versions. For more serious complaints relating to privacy, harassment or breaches of the Editors’ Code, we have a formal complaints procedure that is overseen by the Editor‑in‑Chief, William Ashby. If a complaint cannot be resolved internally, readers may refer the matter to the Independent Press Standards Organisation or another appropriate body, details of which are provided in the procedure.
We take all challenges seriously. Every complaint is acknowledged within two working days and investigated by a person not involved in the original article. Where we uphold a complaint, we publish a correction or clarification and explain the remedy.
Our commitments
- We commit to using the most authoritative primary sources available for every story, and to linking directly to those sources wherever possible.
- We commit to correcting errors promptly and transparently, with full explanations of what was changed and why.
- We commit to maintaining editorial independence from commercial, political or personal interests, and to clearly labelling sponsored or affiliate content.
- We commit to protecting the privacy and data of our readers in accordance with UK data protection law and ICO guidance.
- We commit to reviewing and publishing our policies on fact‑checking, AI use, corrections, complaints and advertising disclosure, and to updating them as standards evolve.