Chris Smith

Chris Smith has pledged to speak out against prejudices surrounding HIV and Aids.

The former Cabinet minister made the comments a day after announcing he had been diagnosed HIV Positive in 1987.

Smith said he had been inspired to make his announcement by Nelson Mandela, who revealed earlier this year that his son had died from Aids.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 on Monday, the Labour MP said he wanted to make the point that it was possible to live with HIV.

He said that "you can be perfectly fit and well and you can do all sorts of other things as well - you can lead a full and busy life".

Smith also raised the issue of all those with HIV/Aids who live in poorer countries and are unable to gain access to the drugs which he has been taking to combat the disease.

"I certainly want to take that flag and wave it as vigorously as I possibly can," he told the Today programme.

Treatment

Writing in the Sunday Times, 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.

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.

Smith was first elected to parliament in 1983 and was also the first MP to publicly declare that he is gay.

The MP has also announced he will be quitting the Commons at the forthcoming general election.