A LEADING health professional has written to MPs in Northumberland criticising them for the growing disparity in life expectancy between the richest and poorest people in their constituencies.

Professor Sir Michael Marmot told dozens of MPs, including the four covering Northumberland, their constituents are "suffering avoidable ill-health and living shorter lives than they should".

New analysis by academics from the Institute of Health Equity at University College London shows the difference in life expectancy of the least and most deprived female residents in Northumberland has grown by 3.9 years, from six in 2010-12 to 9.9 in 2017-19.

This period was used because it was before the coronavirus pandemic, which substantially altered life expectancy figures.

Meanwhile, the gap between the richest and poorest male residents has grown by 2.2 years.

Sir Michael has written letters to the 58 MPs whose constituencies lie wholly or partially in the worst-affected local areas – including Anne-Marie Trevelyan of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Guy Opperman of Hexham, Ian Lavery of Wansbeck, and Ian Levy of Blyth Valley in Northumberland.

Also among the recipients are Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden, justice minister Edward Argar, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, and former health minister Maggie Throup.

"We need you to fight for all your constituents’ health. They are suffering avoidable ill-health and living shorter lives than they should due to poor policies and cuts to essential services," Sir Michael wrote.

He has also written to the leaders of all major political parties demanding action.

In his letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Sir Michael said austerity and funding cuts have "harmed health and worsened health inequalities".

The analysis also shows Northumberland County Council's spending power declined by 27% in real terms from 2010-11 and 2020-21, when factoring in council tax rises and central government funding.

A government spokesperson said: "As set out in our Levelling Up White Paper, we are committed to narrowing the gap in healthy life expectancy by 2030 and to increasing healthy life expectancy by five years by 2035.

"Our upcoming Major Conditions Strategy will help us do this, by tackling the key drivers of ill-health in England.

"We are also investing £15 billion in local communities across the UK as part of our long-term plan to level up, ensure opportunity is spread more equally and to reduce inequalities."

They said they have given councils in England up to £64.7 billion for 2024-25, a 7.5% rise in cash terms.