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Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill

My Lords, the concept that employment tribunals are a cosy chat between an employee and his boss in front of a very receptive body of people is quite wrong these days. An impression of unfairness is created for the employee who is seeking his rights when he finds perhaps even a QC appearing on behalf of a wealthy employer. I have appeared many times for employers, sometimes for employees and sometimes on my own behalf. The excuse, or the reasons, given by the Minister would be far more acceptable if he were to say, ““Well, if a union is backing an employee, that is fair enough; they can pay for legal representation””. If he is there on his own, why not just have the boss—the person who did the sacking—in front of the tribunal, not lawyers who in many cases are overpaid when they are dealing with the individual appearing in front of them?