Former Education Minister Kirsty Williams and ex-Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood have been announced as members of a new independent commission set up to look at the future of Welsh democracy and Wales’ place in the UK.
The Constitutional Commission was set up up by the Welsh Government in October, and now the members who will serve on the commission have been announced.
The commission will be tasked with coming up with ideas for fundamental reform of the constitutional structures of the UK in which Wales remains a part, as well as ways to strengthen Welsh democracy.
Last month, it was announced academic and former international footballer Professor Laura McAllister and former Archbishop of Wales and Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, will be co-chairs of the commission.
The commission members are:
Dr Anwen Elias
A Reader in Politics at Aberystwyth University. Her research interests include comparative territorial and constitutional politics, political parties and deliberative democracy. She is co-director of the Centre for Welsh Politics and Society and the Wales Institute of Social and Economic Data and Research.
Source: Welsh Government
Miguela Gonzalez
A diversity and inclusion practitioner and a former journalist. She worked for the BBC for 15 years, most recently as the diversity and inclusion lead for the nations. She currently works for life science firm Abcam, where she is working to build an open and inclusive culture. Miguela has worked with the Welsh Government on the implementation of the Culture Connect Cymru project and has also been a visiting lecturer at Cardiff University’s School of Journalism, Media and Culture.
Source: Welsh Government
Michael Marmot
Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London and Director of the UCL Institute of Health Equity. Professor Marmot has led research groups on health inequalities for over 40 years. He chaired the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health, several WHO Regional Commissions, and reviews on tacking health inequality for governments in the UK.
Source: Welsh Government
Lauren McEvatt
A former Conservative UK Government special adviser to the Wales Office, during the coalition administration, when she worked on the Silk Commission and the Wales Act 2014. She has subsequently worked for several governments across East Africa and the Caribbean, on constitutional reform, trade and investment.
Source: Welsh Government
Albert Owen
The former Labour MP for Ynys Mon from 2001 to 2019. During his time in Parliament he was a member of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee, Welsh Affairs Select Committee and the International Development Committee.
Source: Welsh Government
Philip Rycroft
A civil servant for 30 years, he worked at a senior level for the devolved government in Scotland before moving to the Cabinet Office in London where he led civil service work for the UK Government on the constitution and devolution. His last posting was as Permanent Secretary at the Department for Exiting the EU.
Source: Welsh Government
Shavanah Taj
Wales TUC’s first BME General Secretary. Shavanah is a passionate campaigner and can often be found contributing speeches at round table debates and protest marches on issues such as anti-racism, just transition, climate change, human rights, women’s rights, fair pay and fair work.
Source: Welsh Government
Kirsty Williams
A former Member of the Senedd and Minister for Education in the Welsh Government during the Fifth Senedd. She became the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats in December 2008 and, at the time, she was the first female leader of a Welsh political party in the Senedd.
Source: Welsh Government
Leanne Wood
A former Member of the Senedd for the Rhondda and former Leader of Plaid Cymru. As the first female leader of her party, she brings a wealth of political experience and has a longstanding commitment to issues of social justice.
Source: Welsh Government
The Welsh Government has said the commission will be supported by an “expert panel” with expertise in areas such as governance, law, constitution, environment, economics and finance.
The commission’s first meeting will be held on November 25.
Pontypridd Senedd Member Mick Antoniw, who is the Welsh Government’s Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution, said: “Each commissioner brings with them different strengths, knowledge, experience and perspectives.
“They are drawn from across Wales, across the UK, and further afield and from across the political spectrum.
“Collectively, the commissioners combine the academic rigor and the alternative perspectives the commission will need to think creatively and radically about Wales’ future.”
Mr Antoniw added: “I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to engage with the commission and join the national conversation about our constitutional future.”
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