Is air conditioning now more of a necessity in Southern England than heating?

With this blistering heat the new normal and the South England summers now being sub Saharan in terms of conditions - it’s time to ask the question.

Is air conditioning now more of a necessity than heating for homes in this part of the UK?

If somebody could only afford one. Which would be more important?

Would more lives be saved by homes having air conditioning installed in the summer than heating being installed in the winter ?