There is no better time for debate than when everyone agrees. That way the contortions, hypocrisy and cant of political actors can be displayed to the world in all their glory. It is a most political act, hypocrisy: one which implies the deferral of truth to power.So when Osborne stood in the House of Commons, the Labour members erupted in derision at a policy they largely supported. By contrast the Liberals cheered him. At the election they denounced his plans as fiscal lunacy; now their agreement was unanimous. Apparently it was the Greek crisis that convinced them. I’m a Liberal Democrat, and not even I pretend to believe that’s true. In fact they were using a most outrageous get-out: that because the facts had changed, they changed their minds. The facts had not changed. Neither had their minds. It was only the political reality that was different: one where support for fiscal retrenchment was prerequisite to the maintenance of electoral reform. Or something. The Lib Dems we ...

For reasons of confidentiality, this article is published by the editors. Caught in the crossfire: social slide and political prejudice Almost 2 years since the last Russian troops consolidated their positions in South Osssetia and Abkhazia and withdrew from the "buffer zones" they had established in the rest of Georgia, the humanitarian situation in Georgia still gives cause for concern. The UNHCR, or UN Refugee Agency, continues to work on behalf of some 250,000 "Internally Displaced Persons" (IDPs): individuals who, because they have not crossed an internationally-recognised boundary, cannot be considered refugees, but who nonetheless have left behind homes and livelihoods in the breakway regions . Given that the population of Georgia is estimated to be only some 4.6 million, this group comprises a substantial proportion of its inhabitants. Displacement often goes hand in hand with unemployment, which unofficial nationwid ...

Hello everybody, welcome to the Alligator's open thread on the first of the three debates between Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg. The idea is to share your thoughts and criticisms of the performances, weaknesses, merits, good bits, bad bits or generally disillusioning bits of the debate. Feel free to be as harsh/supportive/cynical as you like (within the boundaries of common decency). We hope the open thread will stimulate as much debate as possible. If you want to expand on your ideas, why not submit an article or idea to the editors on the 2010 General Election. If you've never used the Alligator before, sign up to post your thoughts here: Sign up to the Alligator Note: by posting on the open thread you agree to the Alligator's terms and conditions ...