Chris Smith

Former Cabinet minister Chris Smith has announced that he has been living with the HIV virus for more than 17 years.

Smith, who was also the first MP to announce he was gay, said he was speaking out in order to remove the stigma attached to HIV/Aids.

The MP said he was remaining healthy as a result of a combination of drugs, good diet and regular exercise.

"I have lived with HIV for many years. I hope I will carry on living with it for many years to come," he said.

"It hasn't stopped me tackling some of the most demanding jobs, and devoting myself passionately to the causes I believe in."

The new combination drug therapy is allowing thousands of HIV sufferers in the UK to lead a normal life.

Treatment

Smith admitted to distressing times following his diagnosis at a time when HIV was incorrectly seen as a virtual death sentence.

"When I first heard about it, I was really worried because there was hardly any treatment, but I was lucky and fairly early on I was put on AZT and later on to a combination of drugs," he wrote in the Sunday Times.

Smith said he had not informed the prime minister or ministerial colleagues, because "it was not in any way affecting my work".

The former minister said he was diagnosed as HIV positive in 1987 - shortly before be became involved with his long term partner.

He is the first British public figure to reveal he is carrying the virus which causes Aids.

Inspiration

Smith said he had been inspired to reveal his HIV status by Nelson Mandela, who announced earlier this year that his son had died from Aids.

"What Nelson Mandela said very much struck a chord with me," said Smith on Sunday.

"HIV still leads to too much injustice. Let’s take a lead from Mandela and face that injustice, and the ignorance and prejudice that give rise to it, head on."

Smith was first elected to parliament in 1983 and has announced he will be quitting the Commons at the forthcoming general election.