CAMPAIGNERS called yesterday for better representation of disabled people in politics and an end to the barriers and discrimination they face.

Nearly a fifth of the population has some form of disability, but at the last election less than 1 per cent of candidates openly declared themselves disabled, Jonathan Fletcher of new group Project 125 told the Morning Star.

Disabled people are "virtually disenfranchised" across all parties, he argued, adding that there is a lack of awareness as well as lack of representation.