Austerity policies had 'substantial' impact on mortality rates, researchers find

When adjusted for population, mortality rates in the UK ceased to fall as quickly as in previous years in 2012, with the poorest being hit hardest by the changes

AUSTERITY policies have made an “substantial” contribution to the stagnation of mortality rates, researchers have said.

Mortality rates throughout the 20th century fell year on year – except in times of war or pandemic – but began to stagnate around 2012.