What is "Agenda 2020"?

The "Agenda 2020" consultation process aims to build a framework for the Liberal Democrats' policy-making for the duration of this parliament. It seeks to:

• describe the core beliefs and values held by the Liberal Democrats
• identify the key challenges that policies will need to address, be they political, economic, social, environmental or international
• apply the Liberal Democrat approach to the expected challenges, to prioritise issues for policy development
• encourage debate and discussion within the party on these issues.

The full policy paper will be presented for debate at this year's autumn conference, but the interim consultation is ongoing and wide-ranging. Party members can submit their views via the members' area of the Liberal Democrats website at www.libdems.org.uk, or they can contribute to a consultative session at the imminent spring conference, called "Agenda 2020 - Your Liberal Britain". The working group preparing the consultation paper requests comments by 8th April 2016 at the latest.

The current consultation document includes key questions that the working group would like to discuss, although comments beyond these topics are also invited. Issues cover prosperity, environment, immigration, public services, health, education, fairness, communities, liberty and security, Britain in the world, and democracy.

Suggested discussion topics are as diverse as:

• "Is there a tension between the security of the state and the security of the individual? How can that challenge be addressed?"
• "How can the further and higher education systems meet the aspirations of people from all backgrounds and all ages?"
• "Under what circumstances are we prepared to forego economic growth (as conventionally defined) to protect the natural environment?"
• "How can we build cross-party support for electoral reform?"
• "What would a Liberal Democrat vision of Britain's place in the world look like?"