THE former Archbishop of Canterbury the Rt Revd Lord Williams is to co-chair the Independent Commission on the Future of Wales, the Government announced on Tuesday.

Set up by Welsh Labour ministers, the body will consider how the current systems through which powers are administered from both the Senedd and Westminster might change, and aims to talk to people around the country. Members are drawn from “a broad range of political opinion and sections of Welsh society”.

AlamyThe Queen leaves after opening the sixth session of the Senedd in Cardiff on Thursday of last week

The other co-chair of the Commission is to be Professor Laura McAllister, a Welsh academic and former international footballer.

The Commission is expected to publish an interim report by the end of 2022, and a final report, with recommendations, by the end of 2023.

The First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, said that “nothing is ruled out” from the commission. Welsh Labour supports Wales remaining part of the UK.

Lord Williams said on Tuesday: “This Commission’s job is to ask what structures and constitutional provisions will best release the potential of Welsh communities and Welsh people.

“We want to make sure that the governance of Wales is effective, accountable, and imaginative, and look forward to hearing what hopes and visions are animating people around the country.”

Professor McAllister said: “Serious contributions to our constitutional debate are greatly needed, and I’m looking forward to our work contributing to filling that space. We’ll think boldly and radically about all potential options for the future of Wales, in the context of the increasing pressure on the Union.”