A NEWPORT man who helped found the Terrence Higgins Trust today slammed comments on HIV by UKIP leader Nigel Farage during last night’s TV leadership election debate.

During the election debate Mr Farage highlighted the number of foreign nationals with HIV whom he said were treated by the NHS.

"We have to look after our own people first,” he said.

“Here’s a fact, and I am sure the other people here will be mortified that I dare to talk about it.

“There are 7,000 diagnoses in this country every year for people who are HIV positive.

“It’s not a good place for any of them to be, I know.

“Sixty per cent of them are not British nationals.

“They can come into Britain from anywhere in the world and get diagnosed with HIV and get the retro-viral drugs that cost up to £25,000 per year per patient.

“I know there are some horrible things happening in many parts of the world, but what we need to do is put the National Health Service there for British people and families, who in many cases have paid into the system for decades.”

Martyn Butler was one of the founders of HIV charity the Terence Higgins Trust.

The charity is a leading voice on sexual health, as well as providing counselling and clinics was set up in memory of friend Terrence Higgins who became one of the first people in Britain to die of Aids.

Mr Butler told the Argus: “HIV doesn't discriminate and politicians shouldn't either.

“Such ill-informed and discriminatory comments generate stigma, and make it harder to encourage people to take a test and stay safe.

“There are many other health conditions he could've mentioned.

“He used the ill informed stigma of HIV to make his point.

“Disgusting.

“I was pretty shocked to hear those comments...it was one of the most talked about issues of the debate.

“The community on both sides of the debate are pretty outraged.

“He had a pop at three different areas in one go- the NHS, homophobia and immigration in one answer.”

Dr Rosemary Gillespie, Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust said: "It was great to see so many people express outrage after Farage's comments last night about the numbers of people in the UK with HIV who were not born here.

“HIV is a public health issue in the UK and globally.

“ If we do not take an inclusive approach and provide treatment for people who need it, we will never prevent onward transmission. “Twenty-four percent of people living with HIV in the UK do not know they are living with it, and 4 in every 10 are diagnosed at a late stage, after they needed to start treatment.

“ HIV doesn't discriminate and politicians shouldn't either.

“Such ill-informed and discriminatory comments generate stigma, and make it harder to encourage people to take a test and stay safe".

Responding to criticism Mr Farage told ITV he presented "hard, cold facts" on the number of non-British nationals being treated for the virus.

"I am showing a way where we could save between £1-and-£2 billion by not allowing very expensive drugs to be given to non-British nationals when there are people here suffering from cancer and other problems that need treatment."

Former Newport Conservative cabinet member William Routley, who has defected to Ukip, said: “Nigel Farage, love him or hate him, was being absolutely honest. He wasn’t saying we shouldn’t treat these people, he was saying ‘This is the impact it’s having on the Treasury, education and people in the UK. We have to take emotion out of it.

“If you find the truth distasteful, maybe Farage can lie next time. We have epidemics of diabetes and obesity and treatment is being hampered by a lack of funds.

“I’m sorry that people have AIDS. We do everything we can as a nation to send aid abroad. Maybe if we cut foreign aid we would be able to spend more on (people coming here for) health tourism.”