Sir Keir Starmer becomes the first sitting prime minister to take a public HIV test. Joined by Terrence Higgins Trust representatives, the PM took a rapid home test to raise awareness of National HIV Testing Week. The government has committed to ending new HIV cases in England by 2030, with a new HIV Action Plan to be published in summer 2025.

This year’s National HIV Testing Week has begun with Prime Minister Keir Starmer becoming the first serving UK prime minister to take a public HIV test. Starmer took the rapid home test at 10 Downing Street to raise awareness that anyone in England can get a free HIV test this week to be done in the comfort of their own home.

Sir Keir Starmer has become the first western prime minister to take a public HIV  test in an effort to destigmatise testing for the virus. During HIV Testing Week, which runs from February 10 to 17,

Keir Starmer has taken an HIV test in public as a way to de-stigmatise testing in the UK. The prime minister sat alongside singer and HIV activist Beverley Knight, and Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) chief executive Richard Angell to use the HIV home test kit.