By Stephen Doughty MP

Last week I joined my fellow Labour MP Ruth Jones, along with Vale of Glamorgan Member of the Senedd Jane Hutt and others, to speak at the 1950s Women of Wales rally in Cardiff Bay.

The group continues to campaign for justice on their pensions, calling for fair and fast compensation from the UK Government, following the summer finding by the Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman that the Department for Work and Pensions should have given more notice of their decision to raise the women’s state pension age.

I met group members outside the Senedd, many of whom have faced great hardship as a result of the DWP’s actions, and I will continue to support them in their fight for justice.

I’ve recently heard from many constituents about sewage pollution. It is shocking that the UK is ranked 25th out of 30 European countries for coastal water quality and only 16% of waterways meet good ecological status.

As a regular open water swimmer myself and someone who loves our beautiful rivers, lakes and coastlines, I’m deeply alarmed at the ongoing revelations about sewage discharge and other pollution incidents.

After UK Conservative MPs tried to block efforts to improve the situation via an amendment to the Environment Bill, the House of Lords emphatically voted to send back the amendment to end the routine discharge of raw sewage into rivers. Unsurprisingly the Government then voted to weaken that amendment.

They are simply in the wrong place environmentally and politically – which is deeply concerning in the week of COP26. We need bolder, more urgent action if we are to address the climate and nature crisis.

While the regulation of water and sewers is generally reserved to the UK Government, here in Wales there are powers to regulate undertakers whose areas are wholly or mainly in Wales – and I’m pleased the Welsh Government is committed to tackling pollution by using these powers.

This year marks 100 years of Remembrance as we know it, as the Royal British Legion (RBL) marks its centenary.

As we approach Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday, it was an honour to plant a stake in the first Parliamentary Constituency Garden of Remembrance, to remember all those from Cardiff South and Penarth who have served and paid the ultimate sacrifice.

It brought to mind the huge sacrifices of our armed forces across the years and to this day. We owe them all a huge debt of gratitude.