Figures released by the Government today confirm what many will have feared, that Bradford is one of the worst places in the country when it comes to early deaths as a result of social factors.

Bradford is ranked 122 out of 150 local authorities for premature deaths, giving the area a red rating in the traffic light system that has been introduced on the new longerlives website.

The figures also reveal that there is a huge gulf in the death rates from the four major killers of heart disease and stroke, lung disease, cancer and liver disease between Bradford and other local authorities.

That will not come as a huge surprise as the district does have a big problem with these so-called lifestyle illnesses, which are often caused by poor diet, smoking, drinking and obesity.

Bradford Council has now taken on responsibility for public health, and these figures reveal it has got a huge task on its hands. There is no doubt the standard of living and high level of poverty in the authority area plays a part in this shocking and needless death toll.

And more than £30m has already been earmarked to improve education on the dangers of an unhealthy diet, too much alcohol, tobacco and lack of exercise.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt suggests that poverty is not the only factor, saying Rotherham, for example, has a similar poverty level but is making inroads into the death rate.

But if the figure reported in terms of health funding per head of population is correct – with Bradford’s reported to be less than half that of Kensington and Chelsea (£59 per head compared to £130) then it is very difficult to argue that disparity of wealth is not highly significant.