# Does a fall in the UK's healthy life expectancy mean what you think it means?

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/more-or-less-867746/does-a-fall-in-the-uk-s-healthy-life-expectancy-mean-what-you-think-it-means-2.md
Podcast: [More or Less](https://stenobird.com/podcast/more-or-less-867746)
Published: 2026-05-27T07:00:00+00:00
Episode link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002wvdd
Audio file: http://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0p05yz5.mp3
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Duration seconds: 1719

## Resource

Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news. This week: Headlines have claimed that “healthy life expectancy” in the UK has fallen by two years. What does this actually mean? (00:32) A new government report estimates that HS2 will cost almost double its original estimate. We ask where the money’s gone. (10:26) Chancellor Rachel Reeves has reduced VAT on theme parks, aquariums and other summer fun. But will these savings get passed on to the consumer? (21:07) And Tim gives a much-anticipated update on his recent marathon. (09:10) Contributors: Stuart McDonald - actuary at LCP Health Analytics John Burn-Murdoch - Chief Data Reporter for the Financial Times Kate Lamble - journalist and presenter of ‘Derailed: The story of HS2’ Dan Neidle - founder of Tax Policy Associates Credits: Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter / Producer: Lizzy McNeill Producers: Tom Colls, Nathan Gower and Josh McMinn Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon

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