Tories 'drive more people to suicide than Labour'

The damaging effect of political activity on the nation's mental health is revealed today in figures showing Conservative governments drive more people to suicide than Labour ones.

Over the past century, suicide rates were on average 17 per cent higher during Conservative rule than under Labour or Liberal administrations, official statistics disclose.

The rate soared under Margaret Thatcher, Tory prime minister from 1979-90, to its highest level since the 1930s but fell under the moderate John Major. After an initial rise under Tony Blair, when his new government was following some Tory policies, it has fallen sharply.

The findings are reported in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health by Dr Mary Shaw and colleagues at the department of social medicine at Bristol University.

Dr Shaw suggests that the Conservatives' market-oriented policies cause greater unhappiness and dissatisfaction than the more inclusive policies of Labour governments.