The government should extend legal aid to human rights and equality tribunal cases, the Law Centres Federation (LCF) said this week.

Launching a campaign for legal protection against discrimination at the Labour party conference in Brighton this week, LCF director Steve Hynes said people were unable to defend their human rights because of a lack of tribunal representation.


Mr Hynes said: 'This is a complex area where people need legal representation and support to bring cases.'


A spokesman for the Department for Constitutional Affairs said funding was already available for some appeal tribunals, including the Employment Appeal Tribunal.


Also speaking at the conference, Bar Council chairman Stephen Irwin QC called for a fundamental appraisal of the legal aid system, including ring-fencing of the civil legal aid budget.