To honour their role and commitment as co-hosts of the Global Fund replenishment, it is also critical that Prime Minister Keir Starmer will be standing side by side with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa leading the final replenishment conference on November 21st.

In the context of these cuts, the UK still needs to continue the important work it has led this year to encourage the remaining donors to step up and make strong pledges.

This reduction by the UK also unfortunately undermines its leadership role as a co-host of the 8th replenishment.

We must always remember that reducing support for the poorest communities, both at home and abroad, is a political choice, not an economic inevitability.

This latest reduction in the UK’s contribution to the Global Fund must be understood as a direct result of the 40% cuts to the international development budget in February – cuts that were entirely unnecessary.

There is no avoiding the fact that this is a 15% cut from their previous pledge of £1 billion in 2022, which was itself down 30% from £1.4 billion in 2019.

Whilst the government has highlighted that the UK commitment is only a 5% cut compared to its last pledge when converted in US dollars – this is due to exchange rate fluctuations.

The pledge of £850 million means the UK will remain a leading contributor to the Global Fund and we acknowledge the value of this sum in a challenging economic environment.

Whether it’s at-risk communities being excluded from preventative health services or people living with HIV losing access to lifesaving medicines, these cuts will have a direct and devastating impact on real people around the world.

The £150 million cut from the previous UK pledge could have saved over 220,000 additional lives and provided 270,000 more people with lifesaving HIV medicines.

While a significant sum, the reduction risks jeopardising the incredible opportunity that game-changing drugs like Lenacapavir present to finally end AIDS by 2030. It may even mean that hard won progress over the last twenty years will be at risk.

Today the UK announced their pledge of £850m to the Global Fund, a 15% reduction on its previous pledge of £1 billion in 2022.

“From marginalised communities being denied access to prevention services to people living with HIV facing disruptions to essential medicines, these reductions will impact on lives across the world.” - STOPAIDS on the long term impact of Global Fund cuts https://t.co/HbBBicVNYT

Our CEO, Mike Podmore has said the UK’s reduced pledge, "puts at risk the real possibility of ending AIDS by 2030" in response to today's Global Fund announcement. #globalfund https://t.co/iowoJhAA3m

Game-changing new drugs mean we can now end AIDS by 2030 if we choose to. @YinkaIlori_’s artwork is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when we choose hope. @10downingstreet & @yvettecoopermp please maintain a pledge of £1 billion to the @globalfund & choose to #EndAIDS!

📢Africa’s digital health future is calling and it must be equitable, inclusive, and just. 🌍 In collaboration with @WHO, we are hosting a webinar to spotlight the urgent need for national strategies that tackle inequalities, amplify community voices & serve marginalized groups.

@GlobalPubInvt #GlobalPublicInvestment is a real, growing policy option backed by over 60 orgs, leaders & experts. Mutual interest. Shared responsibility. Practical reform.

We've been working with @GlobalPubInvt on Global Public Investment, which offers an equitable, 21st-century approach — where all countries contribute, decide and benefit together.

This @guardian piece shows what isn't working with the current model of international aid. Cuts have had a terrible impact on global health and they need to be reversed in the short-term so that international aid can be reformed in the long-term. https://t.co/5IqJHARdpJ

We're closer than ever to ending AIDS. Deaths down from 1.8M to 630K. Treatment reaching 30M+ people. Real progress is happening. The @GlobalFund's next funding cycle is a chance to finish what we started. @yinka_ilori's new artwork captures this possibility. Choose hope: