Luciana Berger MP, Labour’s Shadow Public Health Minister, responding to Office of National Statistics figures showing a 29% increase in excess winter deaths last year, said:

“It is appalling that thousands of people are dying unnecessarily in Britain today.

“On the brink of another cold winter, England’s A&Es are already in crisis. The Government’s severe cuts to elderly care mean support is being withdrawn from homes and hundreds of thousands more older people are turning to hospital - they deserve much better.

“A third of these excess deaths are caused by people living in homes that are too cold. This winter, David Cameron’s failure to stand up to the energy companies will leave too many people forced to choose between heating and eating - Ministers need to take urgent action and back Labour’s plans to freeze energy bills.”