A new report highlights that the gap in life expectancy between the North and South of England is continuing to widen, with people living in northern regions dying at notably younger ages than those in the south. The findings underline persistent and deepening regional health inequalities across the country, adding to long-running concerns about disparities in living standards, healthcare access and economic opportunity between different parts of England.

The article points to northern areas bearing the brunt of premature deaths, suggesting factors such as deprivation, lifestyle and access to services may be contributing to the widening divide. It reflects a broader pattern documented over recent years, in which the North-South health gap has failed to close despite various policy efforts aimed at "levelling up" regional disparities.