Equal rights campaigners have welcomed a decision by Labour MP Chris Smith to go public about his HIV condition.

The former Cabinet minister announced on Sunday that he has been living with the virus for more than 17 years.

Smith said he was speaking out in order to remove the stigma attached to HIV/Aids.

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

Smith told today's Times that the prime minister, who sacked him as culture secretary four years ago, had phoned him to praise his decision to go public.

He said: "I have had a number of constituents who have phoned to offer support and encouragement.

"The prime minister has also been very supportive. He rang me today but I don’t want to go into the detail of the conversation."