Nato considering ‘pre-emptive’ action against Russia’s hybrid warfare attacks

Nato is considering “pre-emptive” action against Russia following a string of hybrid attacks on Europe, a senior official in the alliance has warned.

Italian Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, who serves as chair of the Nato Military Committee, said the alliance may need to adopt a more “aggressive” approach to deter Moscow from continuing its campaign of drone incursions and cyberattacks in Europe.

A recent Financial Times investigation revealed how Nato has been put on high alert after three vessels in the Baltic Sea were accused of dragging anchors to damage energy and communication cables, with a total of 11 incidents recorded.

Other incidents include regular cyberattacks on multiple European countries and incursions of Russian drones into Nato airspace.

Mr Dragone told the FT that the alliance was “studying everything” in deciding how to respond.

“On cyber, we are kind of reactive. Being more aggressive or being proactive instead of reactive is something that we are thinking about,” he said.

He acknowledged that such an approach would be unusual for Nato, but that new tactics may be required as the war in Ukraine nears its fourth year.

Mr Dragone argued a “pre-emptive strike” by Nato could be considered a “defensive action”, despite it being “further away from our normal way of thinking and behaviour”.

“Being more aggressive compared with the aggressivity of our counterpart could be an option. [The issues are] legal framework, jurisdictional framework, who is going to do this?”

In January this year, Nato launched Operation Baltic Sentry, a mission to better patrol the region and deter a possible Russian attack. This included amping up patrol aircraft, warships and drones.

Russia was not directly named in the announcement, but Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said at the time the alliance would improve its monitoring of Moscow’s “shadow fleet”, which refers to ships without clear ownership that are used to carry sanctioned oil.

Mr Dragone added this had been a positive step by Nato to make the region safer.

“From the beginning of Baltic Sentry, nothing has happened. So this means that this deterrence is working,” he said.

However, concerns still exist about whether the operation is going far enough. A court in Finland recently dismissed a case against a crew on board a shadow fleet ship that damaged undersea cables in the Gulf of Finland because the incident happened in international waters.

Russia said on Monday that Mr Dragone’s remarks were “extremely irresponsible” and an attempt to move towards escalation.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said: “We see in it a deliberate attempt to undermine efforts to overcome the Ukrainian crisis. The people making such statements should be aware of the risks and possible consequences, including for the alliance members themselves.”

Ex-Labour councillor appears in court over ‘Westminster honeytrap’

A former Labour councillor accused of blackmailing a Conservative MP in a Westminster “honeytrap” scandal has appeared in court.

Oliver Steadman is charged with blackmailing then-senior MP William Wragg for the contact telephone numbers of up to 12 individuals.

He has also been charged with of improper use of a public electronic communications network in relation to the same victim.

He faces four further improper use of a public electronic communications network charges, namely sending images of indecent character, in relation to four other victims.

The charges span from 8 October 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Steadman appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday for a plea and trial preparation hearing. He was not asked to enter a plea and spoke only to confirm his name.

He will next appear at the court in February.

Mr Wragg resigned the Conservative party whip in April 2024 after he admitted giving politicians’ phone numbers to a suspected scammer he met on a dating app.

In September, head of the CPS’s special crime division Malcolm McHaffie said: “We have decided to prosecute Oliver Steadman with blackmail and five communications offences in relation to a total of five victims working within politics and Westminster.

“This follows an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service which looked into messages that included alleged unsolicited indecent images sent to a number of people within parliamentary political circles between October 2023 and April 2024 using WhatsApp.

“Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.”

Suspect accused of mass stabbing on Huntingdon train refuses to attend court

A man charged over a mass stabbing on a train in Cambridgeshire and a spate of knife attacks in Peterborough has failed to attend his court hearing, and will stand trial next year.

Anthony Williams, 32, is accused of attempting to murder 10 people on an LNER service from Doncaster to London on 1 November, which led to 11 people being treated in hospital.

He is also accused of attempting to murder a 17-year-old on a DLR train at Pontoon Dock in east London as well as several separate incidents on 31 October.

He did not attend Monday’s hearing at Cambridge Crown Court, with a provisional trial date set for 22 June 2026.

The attack started shortly after the train left Peterborough station, with passengers pulling the emergency alarms. Train driver Andrew Johnson, who served in the Royal Navy for 17 years, contacted a signaller and requested an unscheduled stop at Huntingdon station.

Williams has been charged with the attempted murder of Scott Bletcher; Michael Paffett; Kevin Deely; Jonathan Gjoshe; David Presland; Sachin Balakrishnan; Stephen Crean; Samir Zitouni; Rasza Aslam and Scott Green.

Mr Zitouni, who had been working as a train crew member, was left in a critical condition with multiple injuries after being credited with helping to save multiple lives.

Williams is also charged with the attempted murder of a 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and the attempted murder of a 22-year-old man, William Ogelby.

The two separate incidents are both said to have happened in Peterborough on 31 October, the former at a footbridge above Henry Penn Walk and the latter at Rail World car park.

He is also accused of the attempted wounding of 28-year-old Dawid Taborski on the same footbridge, which occurred at around 7pm.

At 7.20pm, he is accused of affray at Ritzy’s Barbers in Queens Walk, as well as the theft of a pack of knives, described in a court document as a “four-pack of kitchen knives to the value of £15” from an Asda store in Stevenage.

This theft was said to have happened on 31 October.

Williams is charged with the assault of Jordan Morley on a King’s Cross to Peterborough train on 1 November.

He is also charged with possessing a bladed article in a public place at a footbridge near Henry Penn Walk, the Rail World car park and Queen’s Walk, all in Peterborough, on 31 October.

The alleged knifeman was remanded into custody following his arrest in Huntingdon.

Cambridgeshire Police announced that it has commissioned an internal review of events prior to the mass stabbing on the LNER train service from Doncaster to King’s Cross.

Max Verstappen is laughing at McLaren – how many warnings do they need?

For all the smugness radiating off the face of Max Verstappen and, by the same token, the fumes of red mist emitting from furious McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, perhaps the first words should go to the true winner of the Qatar Grand Prix: Red Bull’s cool-headed strategy chief, Hannah Schmitz.

For it was Schmitz, the 40-year-old Cambridge-educated engineer, who made the critical call amid yellow flags and muddled thinking on Sunday night. On lap seven, a crash and a safety car created a door of opportunity. Red Bull, and every other team on the grid for that matter, walked straight through. McLaren, however, turned a blind eye.

“I think they [McLaren] are in a very difficult situation where they obviously want to treat the drivers fairly,” Schmitz told Dutch broadcaster Viaplay, moments after deservedly collecting the constructors’ trophy on the podium alongside race winner Verstappen.

“I guess we’re in a position to take advantage of that.” You can say that again.

It is the latest curveball in this impossible-to-predict F1 title race. Verstappen duly raced two supreme 25-lap stints to victory with a raging Piastri languishing behind in second. Verstappen now trails by 12 points, with Piastri a further four points behind. Norris endured a torrid final few laps and looked set for a damaging fifth-place finish before Kimi Antonelli’s mistake saw him nick fourth.

Two vital extra points, which mean, despite the recent screw-ups that include last week’s shock disqualification in Las Vegas, a podium next week in Abu Dhabi will still be enough for the 26-year-old from Somerset to clinch his maiden championship. Anything less and a Verstappen win would complete the most remarkable of comebacks.

And boy will McLaren CEO Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella be hoping and praying that Norris ends up victorious next Sunday, such is the manner in which the papaya-clad outfit have allowed the irrepressible Verstappen to claw back a deficit that looked completely unobtainable.

Eight races ago, Verstappen trailed title leader Oscar Piastri by 104 points. In every round since, bar Brazil, the Dutchman has chewed away at that gap. Now, it is a mere 12 points. Verstappen is now actually four points clear of Piastri, who, despite a much-needed strong weekend in Qatar, needs a minor miracle at the Yas Marina Circuit to win the championship from here.

Yet it was Piastri who was the main fall guy in Lusail. With overtaking a rare commodity – a high-speed circuit but one with no clear overtaking opportunities, something which must be changed by organisers moving forward – track position was everything. Piastri grabbed pole position on Saturday with a stunning final lap and on Sunday got off the line sharply to keep the lead, while Verstappen stormed around the outside to take second place from Norris.

Pierre Gasly, an ex-teammate of Verstappen’s at Red Bull, then collided with Nico Hulkenberg. A heavy crash, debris everywhere, and a safety car. This 57-lap race was already proceeding with a pre-set regulation surrounding tyres: no stint could be longer than 25 laps, given the risk of blowouts. The incident occurred on lap seven; it was almost too good to be true.

It should be noted that McLaren, with Piastri as race leader, were in the unenviable position of being the first team to act. And while in hindsight a “free” pit-stop under yellow flags was the obvious route to pursue, the heat of battle can do funny things to the boffins on the pit-wall. Even Mercedes, back in their pomp, in a similar scenario with Lewis Hamilton in Hungary in 2021, miscalculated and sent their star driver to last on the grid. It happens. Quite ironically, McLaren have recently hired ex-Red Bull strategy guru Will Courtenay as their sporting director, working alongside long-term racing director Randeep Singh.

But the underlying question here is: why did it happen? Was it an honest error in the moment? Or did McLaren make the call to stay out, as they have stated all year, because they wanted to be fair to both drivers? Surely, at a minimum, it was in their best interests to at least split the strategy, pitting one and not the other?

For what it’s worth, Stella denied that the infamous “papaya rules” came into their thinking.

“In fairness, we didn’t expect everyone else to pit,” he admitted afterwards. “Once everyone has pitted, it makes that the right thing to do. When you have the lead car, you don’t know what the others are going to do.

“There could have been a loss for Lando if we pitted both cars with the double stack, but, effectively, the main reason was not expecting everyone else to pit. It was a decision. As a matter of fact, it was not the correct decision.”

Sitting in his Red Bull cockpit, Verstappen could be forgiven for rubbing his hands together when the events unfolded in front of him. Asked about McLaren’s error, the provocative Dutchman replied: “Another one, yep!”

Much like their disastrous double disqualification in Vegas, another McLaren mishap has given Verstappen a sniff in Abu Dhabi, where he so contentiously won his first title four years ago. This correspondent stated last week that McLaren must now ditch their “fairness” ethos and prioritise Norris before it’s too late. The leaderboard, with Verstappen in second and Piastri 16 points off Norris, makes that call altogether more digestible.

How many more warnings do they need? Heading into the final furlong in Abu Dhabi, it is now or never.

If Kemi Badenoch carries on like this she’ll be elected prime minister

It is a good time to be Kemi Badenoch.

Serious as the subject is, the leader of the Conservatives is clearly enjoying taking on Rachel Reeves over alleged fudged numbers and broken promises in the wake of the Budget.

At a particularly punchy news conference in the City on Monday morning, Badenoch hit out hard at the “false information” the chancellor had appeared to give “deliberately” in order to allow her Budget a “soft landing” – a deeply sobering charge that has seen Badenoch’s party call for the UK’s financial regulator to investigate “possible market abuse” by people working in the Treasury and Downing Street in the run-up to the Budget. “If a chief executive had done this, they’d have been sacked,” Badenoch said.

As usual, she has a point – which is not something you can say of the woman in her sights. Walking past the saccharine paint-by-numbers art of the traditional screevers along Hyde Park this weekend reminded me of our chancellor’s weaker waffle in the lead-up to her Budget.

Despite months of chaos, Reeves stood and moralised to a nation, asking them to think of the “poor children” as she imposed £26bn of tax rises on hardworking families, many of whom are skirting just above poverty.

Contrast that with Kemi’s blistering and bombastic riposte at the despatch box last Wednesday, which was both strikingly effective and proof that she has finally found her footing.

“A smorgasbord of misery” was one corker, but it was “a Budget for Benefits Street, paid for by working people” that really stuck. And when she turned to her MPs with the rallying cry, “What have we got? Welfare spending – up! Universal credit claimants – up! Debt interest – up! Inflation – up! Growth – down! Business confidence – down!”, you knew this moment had been expertly orchestrated to dominate social media clicks.

There may be those of you who hate this level of hyperbolic rhetoric, consider it childish, and view Badenoch’s theatrics as a demonstration of the worst of Westminster, but hyperbole exists in politics for a reason – to achieve cut-through. It is no coincidence that Reform UK has slipped back in the polls, with a new poll for The i Paper suggesting that the party’s lead over the Conservatives is shrinking.

The Tories have gained three points to hit their highest poll rating since March, which pollsters said could represent the “first shoots of recovery”.

And it is why you hear critics of this government – including many Labour stalwarts, such as Ed Balls – consistently questioning Keir Starmer’s narrative and direction. Without a clear strategic vision shaped into a story voters can align with, delivered through concise, clippable lines, support drains fast.

In a good economic climate, a government might just get by with this sort of politics by triangulation. Not when it’s raising taxes. This government now looks buffeted by events, and in recent weeks has lurched into internecine chaos. The impression is of a leader – Starmer – who is not in control, but being controlled. Any hoped-for bounce in the polls from measures to ease the cost-of-living crisis has been drowned by arguments over benefit bungs and whether the chancellor misrepresented the spending watchdog. Fifty-eight per cent of voters believe that Reeves has broken her manifesto pledge on taxation.

By contrast, Badenoch’s profile continues to rise, after she initially had to deal with a bankrupt party haemorrhaging members. Where once her directness was seen as a negative, her pugilistic approach has now been honed by an experienced new team to land knockout blows. Straight after she finished mocking the chancellor for her moaning about “mansplaining”, Badenoch was on LBC Radio, making no apologies for her “personal attack” and rolling out more effective punchlines, including: “Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer are using our money to save their jobs.”

On the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show, despite a plucky defence from the puffy-faced chancellor, Reeves’s explanations were too complex; she was defensive, compared with Badenoch’s calm defiance. It is the Conservative framing of the post-Budget debate, including Badenoch’s call for Reeves to resign for “misleading” the public about the supposed black hole, that is sticking.

A post-Budget YouGov poll showed that only 11 per cent think Reeves is doing a good job as chancellor, with 48 per cent saying the Budget was unfair (versus 21 per cent who saw it as fair). And overwhelmingly, people said this Budget would leave the country worse off. The last years of the Tories were marked by turmoil. The problem for this Labour government is that it promised to end that chaos. Rancorous party politics and depleting trust have led to 27 per cent of younger voters now claiming they would prefer an autocratic style of government. I don’t believe this actually equates to them yearning for a police state; instead, it reveals a longing for strong, directional leadership.

It is not surprising that alongside Badenoch’s successful autumn, Wes Streeting and the newly anointed home secretary Shabana Mahmood are enjoying a surge in popularity. The similarities between the two are clear: both are highly effective communicators who underpin their arguments with a narrative the public can easily get onside with. Mahmood’s defence of her major policy reforms on immigration was a masterclass in how to bring party and public with you. Her performance in the Commons was as punchy as anything we’ve seen from Badenoch – including her use of the “P-word”. Their rhetorical skills are an acute threat to their leader because they expose Starmer’s fustian leanings.

Was this week a breakthrough moment for Badenoch? Within her own party – yes. And she dominated headlines over Nigel Farage – which she consistently needs to – as he battles accusations of antisemitic bullying from when he was in school. But Badenoch knows it’s too soon to expect voters to trust the Conservatives again, and that is why she keeps talking up her role as leader of the opposition. The more immediate threat to Starmer may come not from her, but from the bombastic Labour orators on his own benches.

Education for all: How your skills could make you a great teacher

From construction and engineering to hospitality and beauty, Further Education teaching opens up doors to a wide range of careers. Encompassing a range of technical and vocational courses and qualifications for those over 16 who aren’t studying for a degree, it offers a more hands on, industry-led approach to learning.

Further Education offers a more focused, vocational approach and a fast-track into the workplace. It allows you to build on your existing skills and experience while shaping the next generation of professionals in your field. To find out more, we spoke to Further Education students and teachers about how it works and what they get out of it.

Further Education qualifications can be started from the age of 16. “It’s a step up from school but it doesn’t involve so much independent learning and research as many Higher Education degrees,” explains Susan Simmonds, 52, a Further Education lecturer in Land and Wildlife Management at Sparsholt College Hampshire. “During this time, learners gain so much maturity and a qualification that can take them out into industry,”

Sometimes this study might be full-time in college, while other Further Education opportunities offer apprenticeships, with students gaining qualifications while working on the job. Overall, the courses are generally more practical and directly linked to industry and preparing learners for their future careers. “These courses give students a wide range of relevant experience, knowledge and skills during a time when they’re maturing, and becoming ready to transition into the world of work,” Susan says.

There are often myths and misconceptions about the world of Further Education. From the learner side, many people don’t necessarily realise the opportunities available to them through Further Education, as Meri, 17, who is studying an Extended Technical Diploma in Land and Wildlife Management Level 3 at Sparsholt College, explains. “Many people I have spoken to don’t realise there are multiple ways to prepare for a career in industry, and that courses like mine can open those doors.”

For Meri, it’s been a really positive experience, and one that has helped prepare her for the workplace. “The college has a lot of contacts with industry and the assignments we do are similar to professional reports.” Meanwhile, Zach, 17, who is on the same course, has also thrived at the Further Education college: “I have been able to meet far more friends and great people and I feel as though it has helped me grow. It’s also provided many opportunities to experience real-world practical work.”

For those training or working as Further Education teachers, often after years spent in a specific industry sector, it’s the students that make their new career so rewarding. David Hobson, 54, who teaches the Motor Vehicle course at Stockton Riverside College, found that the job satisfaction he gets from sharing his personal know-how with the next generation of workers has kept him in Further Education teaching for 16 years. “The benefits of passing on my skills to young people keep me going. It’s an opportunity for me to equip learners with the industry skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their careers”

Susan, who teaches Further Education part-time alongside her work as a Community Ecologist, has had a similar experience: “I find the work really energising. Young people are so full of life and enthusiasm that I come home feeling uplifted.”

Whether it’s part-time alongside your current job or a switch to full-time teaching, Further Education teaching can be a really rewarding and valuable career move.

Teaching in a mixture of colleges (often General Further Education Colleges or Sixth Form Colleges) and Adult and Community Learning Centres, as well as workplace and apprenticeship settings, it can fit around your life and other commitments. While typical full-time contracts are around 35 hours a week, there are also some part-time or flexible options available.

Real world industry experience across a wide range of jobs can set you on a path to becoming a Further Education teacher, with opportunities in everything from construction and healthcare, to engineering, digital, hospitality, tourism and beauty. You don’t always need teaching qualifications to start teaching in further education, you can undertake training on the job which is often funded by your employer.

If, like Susan and David, you see the appeal of sharing the industry knowledge and skills you’ve developed with the next generation, exploring the option of becoming a Further Education teacher can be a great next step. As David points out, “You won’t know how enjoyable it is until you try it.”

Looking for a new role that’s rewarding, flexible and draws on your current career? Why not consider sharing your experience where it matters most – helping inspire the next generation of workers in the field you love? Visit the Further Education website to find out more

Zipcar considers shutting UK business as bookings suspended

Vehicle hire company Zipcar is in consultation over closing its UK business by the end of the year, an email sent to customers has revealed.

The firm, which offers by-the-hour rentals as well as longer lets for cars and vans, has more than 650,000 clients across the nation – but is discussing options to shut down entirely after the new year.

An email sent to customers revealed consultations are ongoing but that no further bookings beyond 31 December are currently allowed.

The message explained that Zipcar, a US-headquartered group, “are proposing to cease the UK operations and have today started formal consultations with our UK employees.”

Zipcar has more than 1,000 electric vehicles across London and more than 3,000 cars or vans in total across the UK, as well as 14,000 businesses signed up for use.

Members who have paid subscription plans running into next year are set to be reimbursed on a pro rate basis. The firm also noted they would be in touch with any customers who had bookings already planned for into 2026.

“We will temporarily suspend bookings, pending the outcome of this consultation,” the email to customers read. “This means it will not be possible to make any new bookings beyond 31 December 2025.

“Although we propose to cease operations in the UK, your account will remain open until the final decision is made. This means you’re still able to use Zipcars until 31 December 2025. If you would like to see what other car sharing options are in your area, please visit the national charity for shared transport, CoMoUK.”

No specific reason has been provided for the reason behind the imminent closure of UK operations. As recently as May, the company launched a partnership with Hackney council for a new EV club pilot scheme.

Zipcar also operates in the US. The company has been contacted for additional comment.

HIV cuts could take us back to 1980s, warns ex-cabinet minister

The first MP to come out as HIV positive has warned that “foolish” government cuts to foreign spending risk sending the Aids pandemic back to the days of the 1980s, when his diagnosis felt like a death sentence.

Lord Chris Smith, a former secretary of state, made his HIV positive status public in 2005, having been the first British MP to come out as gay in the mid-1980s.

In a striking intervention, he told a gathering of campaigners, charities and journalists organised by The Independent: “The real tragedy of what’s now happening with the cuts to aid from the US, from the UK [is that poorer countries around the world] will be back to what I was facing in 1987.”

In November, the UK announced a 15 per cent cut to its contribution to the biggest international funder of HIV treatment and prevention, as part of deep cuts to overseas aid spending in a bid to shift money to defence.

“The UK government made a very foolish decision in my view,” said Lord Smith, now chancellor of the University of Cambridge.

“They made the wise decision that we needed to invest more in defence, but they made the very foolish decision to raid the international aid budget in order to finance that. That was a mistake.”

Lord Smith was addressing the audience of a screening of The Independent’s chief international correspondent Bel Trew’s documentary, Death Sentence, on the deadly cost of America’s cuts to HIV services at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in London. The event was to mark World Aids Day.

The UK has worsened Donald Trump’s decision to slash the vast majority of foreign aid funding when he took office in January.

While the US ultimately restored some funding, global efforts to treat HIV and prevent new infections have been profoundly disrupted in the past year. Trew told the audience at the screening that at least three people interviewed for the documentary have died since filming, as a result of aid cuts severing their access to life-saving HIV medicine.

“We should never forget that there are hundreds of thousands of people around the rest of the world who don’t have [HIV] facilities,” Lord Smith said. “And it has just, in a stroke of a presidential pen, become infinitely worse.”

The UK could still protect other sources of HIV funding, including through UN agencies – something The Independent is calling on Sir Keir Starmer to do.

Christine Stegling, deputy director of the UN’s Aids agency, UNAids, worked in Botswana in the 2000s at the peak of its HIV epidemic.

“Many of us lost our families, our friends,” she said. When global funding cuts were announced this year, “there was this moment when we realised [the pandemic] could look like this again if nothing really serious happened”.

Despite this, she said, a goal to end Aids as a public health emergency by 2030 wasn’t off the table with the “right resources… to the right communities at the right time” – including new preventative drugs to help bring down the infection rate.

Dr Charles Ssonko, HIV adviser to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), echoed these hopes and fears: “If people interrupt treatment, the virus is going to multiply. They’re going to fall sick again. They’re going to get into hospital. Hospitals are going to get full. We’re actually going to go back two decades ago.

“In 2005, I was treating HIV and everybody was devastated. Families were devastated. Health care workers were devastated.”

Now, though, Dr Ssonko said, there are scientific breakthroughs that can contain the HIV epidemic: “There’s the long-acting treatments that are already available. But I think the biggest problem that we do have today is the funding.”

Cuts could also risk the future development of new drugs, Lord Smith suggested. “If there’s no funding for the deployment of drugs, there will be no research happening into the drugs in the first place.”

However, Dr Ssonko challenged countries in the global South to “step up” and fund their own HIV responses too.

“I think it’s been two decades or more where countries have been dependent on donor funds.

“For sustainability, we need… our own countries to start stepping up and supporting. I’ve worked with communities and I know how much communities can help themselves,” he said.

“I think the biggest lesson learned in all of this, in this shocking system breakdown that we had, is that one particular donor was over-dimensionally involved,” Ms Stegling added, referring to the US.

While many countries were already on a course to pay for more of their own HIV programmes over time, the speed of the cuts threw plans into chaos.

“We were on a good trajectory,” she said. “What has really made this so difficult is this abrupt cut.”

To mark World Aids Day, dozens of activists, including those living with HIV, staged a “die-in” in Trafalgar Square, demanding that the British government reverse cuts to HIV and Aids treatment and prevention services.

Holding placards shaped like tombstones, the crowds, who are part of the protest group ACT UP, chanted: “We mourn the dead, we fight like hell for the living.”

Dan, a member who has been living with HIV for over 20 years, said that, with the global cuts, millions more could die right as groundbreaking new prevention drugs, like Lenacapavir, were coming onto the market. The medication could, if effectively deployed, bring infection rates to zero.

Instead, he said investment should be in breaking the “deadly monopolies” around new drugs, and by making them affordable for all.

Sign our petition for Keir Starmer to protect HIV funding here.

This article is part of The Independent’s Rethinking Global Aid project