Labour blames Tories for falling life span in County Durham

Politicians in former coalfield communities have spoken out after “worrying” statistics were presented to Durham County Council’s cabinet meeting.

The figures show male life expectancy is falling for men by seven months and for women by six months, along with rises in smoking, suicides and child obesity in the wake of Covid-19.

Easington MP Grahame Morris said the report shows political decisions have ‘real world consequences’ and accused the Conservatives of ‘levelling down’ County Durham for last decade.

He said: “The harm to our communities is being caused by the policies and decisions of a Conservative Prime Minister that was too busy finding ways to cover up covid rule-breaking in Downing Street to have and thought or consideration for people living in East Durham without power.

“Look at local health services, rail services, the bus network, the powergrid, business investment, policing, regeneration or cuts to our schools and colleges, all these expose the levelling up lie in order to maintain a status quo which directs support and resources to London and the South East.

“At local and national level, our communities deserve better than the current failing leadership that is pushing our county towards economic hardship and entrenching health inequalities through declining life expectancy.”

Mr Morris said cross-party joint administration, which excludes Labour members at Durham County Council, has become ‘apologists’ for the Tory policies of decline.

He said: “Declining life expectancy and poverty is a result of political decisions, political decisions Lib Dems, Greens, the NEP and Independents at Durham County Council are endorsing through their support and maintenance of the Conservative Party in positions of leadership at the council.”

The study found life expectancy in County Durham was already below the national average and there remains significant disparities on life expectancy across the county.

Durham City MP Mary Kelly Foy said figures showing the fall in life expectancy was a ‘damning indictment’ of the failures of the Conservative Government to address health inequalities in the region over the last 11 years.

She said: “While the pandemic has undoubtedly had an effect on the physical and mental health of people across the region, given the way the Government has completely neglected the North East, this was an outcome that we could foresee.

“That’s the reason that I and others have been calling on the Government throughout the pandemic to provide more support for people and businesses throughout the pandemic.

“They slashed Universal Credit, voted to cut free school meals, delayed the Tobacco Control Plan, froze public sector pay, increased council tax and national insurance contributions, and ensured that many people in the North East will have to sell their homes to pay for their care.”

Ms Foy said County Durham needs ‘stronger messaging’ coming from the joint administration leading Durham County Council.

She said: “The constant watering down of motions on topics such as the social care crisis and the cut to Universal Credit, simply to appease the Government, is not going to achieve anything for the people of County Durham.

“The Prime Minister is happy to speak about ‘levelling up’ in the run-up to elections, but what is the Government doing to tackle these inequalities?

“This shocking statistic shows that you cannot govern by buzzword bingo. The North East doesn’t want snappy slogans, we want a Government that prioritises health and prosperity in our region as much as it does for the south.”

North Durham MP Kevan Jones agreed Tory austerity was behind the decline in average life expectancy in the county.

He said: “The Government clearly need to think again about their proposals to cut County Durham’s public health funding by 38 per cent.

“Under the proposals County Durham would lose £19m whilst funding in the Home Counties is increased.

“This is not Levelling Up.”

The Northern Echo has contacted County Durham’s Conservative MPs, Richard Holden, Dehenna Davison and Paul Howell for comment.

Councillor Amanda Hopgood, leader of the Joint Administration of Durham County Council, said: “To be clear, this is the quarter two report for 2021, which began one month after the Joint Administration was formed, following 103 years of Labour leading on this subject in County Durham.

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“Life expectancy does not turn around quickly and if the opposition group was so concerned about the topic, at least one member should have turned up to the cabinet meeting this week.

“Perhaps the reason that they didn’t was because of the positive reports that were also on the agenda, such as the actions that we are actually taking to combat poverty, or the economic strategy that we are developing to address many of these interrelated issues, boosting employment and opportunities across the county.

“The economic strategy will be a fundamental part of our response to this issue and it’s staggering that is has never existed in County Durham.”

Cllr Hopgood said issues such as life expectancy are influenced by a great many factors, have long term consequences, emerge over decades and continue to make impacts for generations.

She said: “Between 1997 and 2010, we had a Labour government, with a Prime Minister whose constituency was in County Durham.

“Now that we have an opportunity to effect change here, the Joint Administration is getting on with the job of developing and delivering positive, sustained and joined up action.

“This is in sharp contrast to the tabling of grandstanding motions during council meetings that call for condemnations without offering ideas or solutions to help anyone.

“We will continue to offer an approach that delivers real actions, rather than empty political soundbites.”

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