Opposition part call for end to 'shameful' pensions justice
Plaid Cymru's Heledd Fychan backed the 1950s Women of Wales group's campaign for justice for women affected by changes to the pension age.
Millions of women saw their retirement plans plunged into chaos after they were given little to no notice of the change, causing financial hardship for many.
Ms Fychan also raised the plight of former miners under the British Coal pension who are calling for the same justice afforded to members of the miners' pension scheme in autumn.
And the politician highlighted that former workers of Allied Steel and Wire (ASW) have seen their pensions 'erode' for decades due to a failure to uprate them with inflation.
'These three groups have one thing in common,' she said. 'The members of the campaigns are all individuals who have worked hard throughout their lives and who deserve the basic right of stability in their retirement.
'They did nothing wrong and it is a disgrace that in their retirement they have to campaign for something that they should be entitled to.'
Leading a debate on May 21, Ms Fychan stressed: 'Let no-one forget that political decisions are responsible for these injustices and that political decisions can also provide redress.'
Plaid Cymru's shadow finance secretary accused first minister Eluned Morgan and Welsh secretary Jo Stevens of saying one thing in opposition and doing another when in power.
Her Conservative counterpart Sam Rowlands, whose mother has been affected by pension changes, similarly accused Labour of 'quite remarkable' hypocrisy.
Mr Rowlands said: 'Eluned Morgan confidently stated that a Labour government at Westminster would 'put this right'. But, as we see now, it's complete rubbish. Labour happily said one thing in opposition before doing a screeching 180 and reneging on their promises.'
He warned that Plaid Cymru's pursuit of Welsh independence, which 'relies on fantasy economics', would 'blow a hole' in pension protections.
Plaid Cymru's motion was voted down, 24-11 with 12 abstaining, before Labour's amendment was narrowly agreed, 24-23.
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