Labour leader Ed Miliband calls on UK to ‘stand up for the rights of those in society with HIV’

Labour leader Ed Miliband has joined in other political leaders in recording a message to mark World AIDS Day.

In his video, unlike his opponents, recorded without a World AIDS Day ribbon, Mr Miliband said: “Whether it affects people in Britain or around the world, that fight is an incredibly important fight. It’s a fight I join with.”

“It’s also a moment when we recognise the stigma faced by those people with HIV or AIDS. Let’s stand up for their rights, let’s stand up for inclusion in our society and let’s stand up against prejudice wherever we find it.”

The Labour Party frontbench wore World AIDS Day ribbons on Wednesday for Prime Minister’s Questions.

Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg said: “1 in 5 people who disclose that they have HIV are discriminated in the work place. This is simply unacceptable in 2012. People living with HIV have the same rights as everyone else.”

He ended by saying: “Today on World AIDS Day, we can look back at our achievements and recognise that more progress needs to be made. Lets world together in the United Kingdom and around the world to create a world that is free finally of HIV.”

In his message, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Some 25,000 people in the UK do not know they have it, or not benefiting from treatment, and are increasing the risk of passing the virus on.

“This means up to 600 people each year could be dying from a preventable, treatable condition”.

• Dec 01 2023

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