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Enforced returns and enforced origins
A bar graph published by Labour does not start at zero.
On 28 November 2024, the Labour Party published this bar graph on social media:
Enforced origins
When creating a bar graph, it is common practice to start the bar from zero. The reader is comparing the height of each bar, to compare the represented numbers.
As the Royal Statistical Society’s best practices guide for data visualisation states:
Axis ranges should generally start at 0 unless there is a good reason for choosing other ranges.
A deliberate choice in axis limits can affect the reader’s perception. In Labour’s graph, there is a visual impression given by starting from 1,200.
Despite the axis choice, text states there is a “+19% increase” from the previous to the latest period.
Statistics on returns
The Home Office publishes quarterly statistics on the immigration system. One section focuses on how many ‘returns’ there are…
