Commenting on the latest data from the ONS which suggests life expectancy progress in the UK ‘stops for the first time’, Jon Date, Head of External Affairs at the specialist think tank the International Longevity Centre – UK (ILC-UK), said:

“It’s very hard to predict how long people born today will live, so the idea that increasing life expectancy in the UK has stalled should be taken with a pinch of salt.

“What is clear from our research is that the gap in life expectancy between the rich and poor is worsening over time. The reasons behind these disparities are complex, but it is utterly unacceptable to witness a growing health divide in 21st century Britain.”