Boris Johnson told to take personal charge to reverse shocking fall in life expectancy for England’s poorest since Tory austerity

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Boris Johnson has been urged to take personal charge of stemming a shocking decline in life expectancy for the poorest women in England, blamed on a decade of government cuts. Sir Michael pointed out that, for a century prior to 2010, life expectancy had increased by one year every four years, before “almost grinding to a halt”. “From the beginning of the 20th century, England experienced continuous improvements in life expectancy but, from 2011, these improvements slowed dramatically,” he said “England has lost a decade,” Sir Michael warned, adding: “If health has stopped improving, that means society has stopped improving.” Speaking on BBC Radio 4, he said there was little doubt about the causes “if child poverty has gone up, if Sure Start centres have closed, if education spending has gone down, if more children are below the poverty line, if housing has become more difficult”. “There is still much more to do and our bold prevention agenda, record £33.9bn a year investment in the NHS, and world-leading plans to improve children’s health will help ensure every person can lead a long and healthy life.” Prime minister Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said: “Every single person deserves to lead a long and healthy life, no matter who they are, where they live or their social circumstances.