Despite over 1100 emails from campaigners, Gordon Brown failed his first test on AIDS as Prime Minister, when he pledged just half of what’s needed to the Global Fund.

In June, the G8 agreed to give more resources to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria, enabling it to spend £8 billion a year on lifesaving health care. The Fund is a key player in the fight against these three diseases which kill 6 million people a year.

Last month over 1100 people emailed Gordon Brown, asking him to provide £700m to the Global Fund over the next 3 years.

Last week the UK committed £1 billion to the fund, but announced that this would cover our contribution until 2015.  This means the UK will pay just £360 million for the next three years - half of our fair share and far short of what’s needed to meet the ‘£8 billion a year’ target.

The UK has traditionally been a leader at the Global Fund.  The announcement of such a disappointing amount before last week’s long awaited Global Fund meeting also ensured other rich countries felt ‘let off the hook’.  The replenishment meeting, chaired by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, brought in just $9.7 billion for the next three years, not even close to what’s needed to tackle HIV&AIDS and fight other killer diseases.

Campaigners now need to keep up the pressure to ensure this gap is plugged and put the G8 on track to meet the target of HIV prevention and treatment for all by 2010.