Keir Starmer has made history as the first serving UK Prime Minister and G7 leader to take a “public HIV test,” the UK Prime Minister’s Office announced on Monday.
According to an official statement, Starmer took the test in support of National HIV Testing Week in the UK. He was joined by Terrence Higgins Trust Patron Beverley Knight and took a rapid home test to raise awareness of the importance of HIV testing.
In a post on X, the Terrence Higgins Trust shared, “An HIV test from home @10DowningStreet. Sir Keir Starmer has become the first Prime Minister and G7 leader to take a public HIV test, as part of National HIV Testing Week which starts today.”
After completing the test, Starmer emphasized the significance of regular testing, stating, “It is really important to do it, and I am pleased to have taken part too. It’s easy, it is quick. And during testing week you can get a test free – so it is a great time to also take part.”
He further added, “If people test, they will know their status. It is better that people know, and that is a good thing because you can then get access to treatment. That will also help meet our collective target to end new HIV transmissions by 2030.”
The Prime Minister’s Office reaffirmed Starmer’s commitment to ending new HIV cases in England by 2030, with a new HIV Action Plan set to be published in the summer of 2025.
Notably, the campaign, which promotes home or self-testing, has made up to 20,000 funded testing kits available to the public. This initiative is part of the government’s broader ambition to eliminate new HIV cases in England by 2030, a commitment made by Starmer in December.