The number of paupers’ funerals in London almost doubled between 2013-2016 according to the latest figures. A pauper’s funeral is one in which people die alone or without known relatives and the cost of the funeral is met by the local authority. The reason given for the increase is longer human lifespans, squeezed incomes, the rising cost of traditional funerals and the increase in the number of people living alone.

In the past you needed life insurance in case you died. In the future you’ll need it in case you don’t.