APPG on Antimicrobial Resistance Holds AGM and Confirms 2026 Priorities

The All‑Party Parliamentary Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) held its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 25 February in Portcullis House. Members reviewed the Group’s work over the past year, re‑elected officers, approved the Income & Expenditure Statement, and agreed a programme of activity for 2026.

The Group’s four officers we re-elected:

• Chair / Registered Contact: Dr Beccy Cooper MP (Labour)
• Co‑Chair: Lord Mackinlay of Richborough (Conservative)
• Secretary: Danny Chambers MP (Liberal Democrat)
• Treasurer: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party)

The AGM also confirmed that the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) will continue to serve as the Group’s Secretariat.

Reflections on the last year

The AMR APPG worked across national security, global health and infection diagnostics to strengthen political leadership on AMR and to propose practical, workable solutions to identified gaps. Key areas of activity included:

• National security engagement — engaging with the Ministry of Defence and Cabinet Office to ensure AMR is recognised as a strategic resilience issue.
• Scrutiny of the Fleming Fund closure — pressing government for clarity on how global surveillance, laboratory capacity and workforce training will be supported going forward.
• Promoting strengthened global partnerships — collaborating with parliamentarians in Zambia and Tanzania to reinforce the value of UK technical expertise and mutual learning exchanges on AMR.
• Modernising infection diagnostics — a well‑attended parliamentary drop‑in on urinary tract infections underscored the need for updated infection diagnostic pathways and stronger national leadership.

The APPG maintained scrutiny at a time when resistant infections in England rose by 17% last year. Officers reflected that this worsening trend underscores the urgency of sustained action on AMR.

Priorities for 2026

Officers endorsed a programme of work to sustain political momentum and ensure infection and AMR are treated as core components of national and international policy. Planned activity includes:

• A meeting on global partnerships for antimicrobial R&D
• A spring session on infection and AMR in health reform
• A briefing on the soon to be launched Sepsis Modern Services Framework
• Engagement opportunities around the LIFELINE musical
• Coordinating global parliamentary activity around the Nigeria AMR High‑Level Meeting in June
• Autumn briefing on England’s annual AMR data and accountability for data‑driven action

2026 must be a year of “thinking infection first” across national policy and major health strategies. The centenary of the discovery of penicillin in 2028, alongside the UK’s upcoming G7 and G20 presidencies, provides an opportunity for the UK to elevate AMR on the global stage and shape long‑term international ambition.

Statement on Foreign Funding

The AGM also reaffirmed the Group’s due‑diligence statement on funding.