Watch moment Bev Turner is left exasperated by Keir Starmer's 'stupid PR stunt'
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Keir Starmer took a HIV test in a move Bev said was 'weird'
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GB News presenters Bev Turner and Andrew Pierce have criticised Labour leader Keir Starmer's public HIV test as an outdated publicity stunt.
Bev expressed bewilderment at Starmer's decision to take the test on television, questioning the need for such a demonstration.
"There's no stigma around HIV anymore. It's so weird," she said during the programme.
Andrew echoed his co-host's sentiments, declaring: "The stigma has gone, prime minister. You are years behind."
Bev and Andrew were left baffled
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"Just when you think they can't do anymore stupid PR stunts, that was really stupid," Bev added.
Sir Keir Starmer has become the first serving Prime Minister and G7 leader to take a public HIV test, conducting the demonstration at 10 Downing Street.
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Keir Starmer took a HIV test
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The Labour leader described the test as "simple" and "painless", urging other leaders to follow his example.
"I would encourage other leaders, community leaders, those that can reach right into different groups within our communities: do the test yourself, show other people, talk it through, explain," Starmer said.
The test was performed alongside soul singer Beverley Knight, a prominent HIV awareness advocate.
Pierce suggested Starmer should focus on different health priorities instead of HIV testing.
Bev said the move was a 'stupid PR stunt'
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"He should be doing more to ensure men in particular get their prostate checked, but I can't imagine him doing that in public," Pierce said.
"Don't give him any ideas," Turner responded jokingly.
The GB News presenters maintained that HIV awareness demonstrations were no longer necessary in today's society.
The public HIV test marks the start of National HIV Testing Week, during which 20,000 free testing kits are being made available to the public.
Around 107,000 people live with HIV in the UK, with approximately 4,700 unaware of their status.
Starmer has committed to ending new HIV cases in England by 2030, with a new HIV Action Plan due this summer.
A recent YouGov poll found that over 80 per cent of adults in England were unaware they could test for HIV at home.
Richard Angell OBE, CEO of Terrence Higgins Trust, praised Starmer's leadership on the issue.
"The Prime Minister has made history by becoming the first G7 leader to publicly take an HIV test while in office and has led by example," Angell said.
"England can be the first country in the world to end new HIV transmissions, but we are not on track to do so by 2030. Scaling up HIV testing will be crucial to our shared goal."
"We are delighted that Keir Starmer is leading from the front in this mission," he added.
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