DOZENS of MPs, including government ministers, were condemned after an analysis revealed today that people in their constituencies are “suffering avoidable ill-health and living shorter lives than they should.”

Leading health equity expert Professor Sir Michael Marmot has written a damning letter to 58 MPs across England to highlight “particularly concerning health trends” in their constituencies.

The list includes Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, former prime minister Liz Truss, former health secretary Steve Barclay, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden, Justice Minister Edward Argar, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick and former health minister Maggie Throup.

New analysis of official data by the Institute of Health Equity at University College London, highlights which local areas are “falling behind” in health care.

Researchers examined every local authority in England to plot levels of health, inequalities in health and cuts in their spending power.

They identified 17 local authorities with statistically significant increases in inequalities in life expectancy between 2010-12 and the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We need you to fight for all your constituents’ health,” Sir Michael wrote in the letter.

“They are suffering avoidable ill-health and living shorter lives than they should due to poor policies and cuts to essential services.”

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” and that life expectancy is “stalling” which is a “tragic waste.”

The analysis concluded that people’s health has deteriorated, health inequalities have widened, and the north-south health gap has increased.

Sir Michael said it was no surprise that local authorities are struggling to make ends meet and that people live shorter lives than they should.

He said: “If you slash the services that support people then health will be harmed.

“This is a dismal state of affairs. It’s time for action and political leadership across the board.

“Action is needed on the social determinants of health — the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age.

“These social conditions are the main causes of health inequalities.”

A government spokesperson said its upcoming Major Conditions Strategy will tackle the key drivers of ill-health in England.