Over the past few months we’ve seen a variety of horrific stories never before experienced in Europe.

France especially has been rocked by the latest round of attacks on innocent people killed at their Bastille Day celebrations – including young children – and the sickening, cold-blooded murder of a Catholic priest in a quiet town.

Both times those responsible claim they have carried out these atrocities – which left us all reeling – in the name of religion. No religion on earth preaches this inhumane and barbaric approach.

Terror attacks throughout mainland Europe are certainly on the increase.

Many of the horrifying images seen on television news programmes simply strengthen the views that many Europeans have about unchecked immigration, including fears it might allow terrorists to travel freely.

But 10 out of 10 to the Swiss government which was willing to do something about it by proposing beefing up its borders.

Switzerland is not an EU member state but – like Norway – has a trading agreement with Europe, which includes signing up to the Schengen agreement allowing free movement of people between countries without border controls.

When it acted unilaterally in threatening to tighten those controls, the ever inflexible European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker decided to allow his negotiators to investigate and tie up a deal with them.

Now, why couldn’t Mr Juncker have been so flexible when David Cameron asked for the same as Switzerland?

Of course, Brexit makes that a moot point – but not a redundant argument here in Scotland.

If indyref2 happens with the pledge of an independent Scotland remaining in the EU, we must think very carefully about our borders and the controls we have over them.

I believe we do need checks and balances on immigration and who is coming in and out of our country. It just makes sense.

Which is why I would be happy to see an independent Scotland, but not one that is within the EU.

And I know I am far from alone in that opinion – one that the independence campaign needs to address. However, that is an argument for the future.

For now, we should be grateful to our security and border forces, police and other agencies who work round the clock to stop any perceived threat to our safety.

Behaviour at Democrats’ conference alarming

With the Democrat and Republican candidates for America’s top job now approved at the respective conferences, the world will be holding its breath until the final result is in.

It certainly didn’t come as a surprise to me or probably anyone else when the Republicans selected Donald Trump.

Nor was it a surprise when the Democrats made their choice in Hilary Clinton.

The most alarming news coverage from the States was following the Democrat conference, when party supporters were outspoken to the extreme about their party’s choice of candidate, with some talking about leaving the party and voting for Donald Trump.

I definitely won’t be putting any money on the final result now that Democrat voters seem to be jumping ship and supporting the Republican candidate.

Why can’t SNP take ‘no’ answer?

What has been referred to as one of the SNP’s flagship policies has been kicked into touch by five Supreme Court Justices.

They pronounced the appointment of a named person for every child in Scotland is not compatible with European Human Rights legislation.

I was surprised to hear Scottish Ministers will not be scrapping the scheme. Why is it they won’t take no for an answer and stop wasting time and money on a scheme that’s been ruled illegal in a court of law?