Austerity puts UK bottom of life expectancy league table
THE UK has dropped to bottom place in a table of rises in life expectancy.
Austerity measures have been blamed for the huge slowdown highlighted in an ONS study.
Gains in women’s lifespans fell from 12.9 weeks per year in 2005-2010 to 1.2 weeks in 20112015. It was the worst figure for women among 20 industrialised nations. Only the US fared worse for men, with UK gains dropping from 17.3 weeks per year to 4.2 for the same period. Japan came top in 2016 for lifespan, at 87 years, out of 10 countries. The UK trailed at eighth with 82 years. Shadow health minister Justin Madders said: “This slowdown exposes the terrible effects of austerity policies since 2010.” The Department of Health added: “The trends are evident across Europe, North America and Australia.”