The evidence of current health inequalities in England is widely known and indisputable. And there is no more opportune time to shine a light on disparities in health than in the run-up to and the months after an election.

Our recent report on health inequalities in 2040 provided a sobering glimpse into the future. The work, carried out by the Health Foundation's REAL Centre, in conjunction with the University of Liverpool, found that in 2040, 700,000 additional working-age people in England will be living with major illness, including chronic pain, type 2 diabetes, anxiety and depression.