IT HAS long been known that many more people in the UK die in winter months than at other times of year. It has never been a secret.

Year after year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS), published the data to prove it.

That is until 2022, when the annual publications abruptly ended, without any official explanation as far as I am aware. It took a Freedom of Information request to winkle out the real story – this is the ONS response in February 2026 to that FoI:

You asked

I would like to request the following recorded information held by the Office for National Statistics:

·         The total number of excess winter deaths (or excess winter mortality figure) in England and Wales for the winter period 2024/25 (defined as December 2024 to March 2025, or the standard ONS winter definition if different).

·          If available as part of the above or separately recorded, a breakdown of these excess winter deaths by age group, particularly for those aged 65 and over (or State Pension age / older persons / OAPs equivalent).

·         Any provisional, estimated, or final figures for cold-related mortality (or deaths attributable to cold weather / low temperatures) in the UK (or England and Wales) during the winter of 2024/25, including any modelling, estimates, or direct counts if held.

If the full annual excess winter mortality bulletin or dataset covering winter 2024/25 has not yet been published, please provide:

·          The current expected publication date or release schedule for this data.

·          Any provisional or interim figures, weekly/monthly breakdowns, or related surveillance data already held that indicate excess mortality during the relevant winter months.

We said

Thank you for your request.

Read More – The climate scaremongers: Covered up, excess winter deaths that contradict the global warming narrative