The Liberal Democrats have launched a bid to unify Britain's anti-discrimination laws.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC launched an Equality Bill on Wednesday which he hopes will be a comprehensive review of "patchwork" laws on race, gender and religion.

The peer argued that little has changed since legislation was first set out in the 1960s despite election promises from the current government.

"New Labour won power in 1997 pledged by their election manifesto 'to eliminate unjustifiable discrimination wherever it exists'. Almost six years later, there is no sign that Labour intends to keep that promise," Lord Lester told journalists.

He claimed the complexity of the existing legislation makes it difficult for employers - particularly small businesses - to comply with their legal obligations and that ministers have abandoned vulnerable people.

"The most the government are willing to do is to implement narrow EC equality directives mainly confined to discrimination in employment. As a result, victims of unjustifiable discrimination will continue to lack effective remedies in many areas," he said.