Lord Ashcroft: The Rise of “Baby Deserts” - Why We Need All-Party Support to Promote Higher Birth Rates

Lord Ashcroft: The rise of “baby deserts” - why we need all-party support to promote higher birth rates

Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. For more information on his work, visit lordashcroft.com The UK fertility and birth rate have dropped to an all-time low of just 1.44 children per woman being born. That is a staggering 31 per cent below the bare minimum for maintaining the population. The problem is so severe that some in the British media have coined the term “baby deserts.” Earlier thi…

The rise of “baby deserts” – why we need all-party support to promote higher birth rates - Lord Ashcroft

Published on ConservativeHome.com on 30 May 2025. The UK fertility and birth rate have dropped to an all-time low of just 1.44 children per woman being born. That is a staggering 31 per cent below the bare minimum for maintaining the population. The problem is so severe that some in the British media have coined the term “baby deserts.” Earlier this year, the Mail Online published a map with the telling headline: “Britain’s biggest ‘baby deserts…