A horrendous predicament

The humbling humanity of this 44-year-old – rightly hailed as “a British hero” by David Cameron – could not be in greater contrast to the indefensible inhumanity of his barbaric killers who showed no mercy. First, the US journalist James Foley was executed. Then his colleague Stephen Sotloff. And now gruesome images purporting to show the decapitation of Mr Haines as well as chilling threats to kill Alan Henning, a second UK aid worker.

These murders are even more shocking because they appear to have been perpetrated by British-born jihadists who have opened a dangerous new offensive in the so-called ‘war on terror’. They have must never be allowed back in this country – unless it is to stand trial in a court of law – and the public’s revulsion at the death of Mr Haines must be reflected by the new anti-terror legislation being considered by MPs as they consider the legality of stripping UK-born terrorists of their citizenship rights.

It is to the credit of British Muslims that so many of their leaders have condemned the masked militants behind these killings; they need to totally disassociate their communities with the warped views of those terrorists looking to create a caliphate across the Middle East on the back of such savage sectarianism.

However, the resolution that was self-evident in Mr Cameron’s voice masked the invidiousness of his position as world leaders look to form a military alliance with the aim of halting the advance of the advance of the ‘Islamic State’.

It will be very difficult to “confront this menace” with “an iron determination”, the Prime Minister’s pledges, without regional co-operation if a wider consensus for military engagement is finally reached. Yet it is still inconceivable that Britain, America and others could work with longstanding enemies like Iran – or Syria for that matter. After all, it is just 12 months since the West backed down from an attempt to overthrow Bashar-al-Hassad because of his regime’s crimes against humanity.

Yet, while leaders ponder, the so-called “Islamic State” is spreading its brutality with breathtaking speed. It now controls territory comparable in size to Britain thanks, in part, to the vacuum in Syria, and the enduring tribal rivalries in neighbouring Iraq as attempts are made to form a more representative government.

Given this, the choice facing world leaders in Paris today could not be more unpalatable – stand on the sidelines as more Western hostages pay with their lives or sanction military action which will harden the resolve of jihadists and their fanatical followers. Judging by the tone of Mr Cameron’s comments, the growing belief that the latter option appears to be the lesser of two proverbial evils is indicative of the horrendous predicament facing Britain and a war-weary West as justice is sought for David Haines, his grief-stricken family and other victims of this sickening savagery.

Battle of Britain: Scotland faces £13.8bn question

IF scottish voters need any further convincing about the financial folly of independence, it is provided today by the Centre for Policy Studies with its assertion that there is a £13.8bn “black hole” in Alex Salmond’s budget plans.

The evidence is compelling – an over-estimation of projected North Sea oil revenues, the impact of Scotland’s financial services industry relocating rather than put its trust in Mr Salmond and the public sector pension liabilities that will be inherited by a new government at Holyrood.

It is simply unacceptable for the First Minister to brush aside such concerns by accusing his opponents of scare-mongering, or saying that issues like pensions will be the subject of further negotiations in the event of a Yes vote.

He is effectively asking the people of Scotland to vote for the creation of an independent country that will be bankrupt from the start because of the extent to which expenditure will outstrip revenue according to the experts from the CPS.

Yet the outcome of the increasingly frenetic campaigning now taking place north of the border is not exclusive to those Scots who are eligible to vote.

The repercussions of independence will be profound for the whole of Britain, not least their potential to halt the economic recovery as politicians on both sides of Hadrian’s Wall become embroiled in protracted and expensive negotiations over the reconfiguring of public services – and the constitutional fabric of the United Kingdom – rather than driving forward those reforms that are critical to unlocking a new era of prosperity for the United Kingdom’s wider benefit.