Wales reporter

WELSH nationalists will unveil their “cost of inequality” plan today to help people in Wales struggling to pay bills this winter.

Plaid Cymru’s plan aims to set out solutions it claims will address the growing cost-of-living challenges faced by people in Wales.

Plaid Cymru’s Sioned Williams MS said: “The cost-of-inequality crisis facing households this winter is devastating. 

“The price of food and fuel has left families struggling to make ends meet and rents and mortgage payments are continuing to rise.”

Plaid claimed that Wales possessed powers to take direct action at little additional cost to help families struggling to make ends meet. 

The party’s five proposals include a new warm homes programme to tackle fuel poverty, pilot free-bus-travel for under-16s, extending free school meals to secondary school pupils, creating a Welsh benefits system and freezing rents.

“The government must take immediate action to address the housing crisis by announcing a winter rent freeze and reintroducing an eviction moratorium for private renters,” Ms Williams said.

"These are all tangible solutions that will directly address the pressing challenges faced by our communities.”

She urged the Welsh government to “step up, use the powers Wales has and tackle the crisis with the urgency and seriousness it deserves — rather than settle for crumbs from the Conservatives in London.

”Affordable and sustainable housing is essential to mitigate the worst of the cost-of-inequality crisis.”

The Welsh government was contacted for comment.