I don’t scare easily but the language coming out of last week’s Tory conference was getting on for being terrifying.

British jobs for British people twinned with saying firms should declare how many foreign workers they employ (the unsaid suggestion being so the great British public can express their disapproval).

Then there is this central theme of training homegrown doctors to replace the ones that aren’t from here clogging up the health service.

The constant drip, drip, drip of the need to deal with sponging immigrants, an unwelcome burden on our society, coming here with their crime and terrorist tendencies. It has an odious whiff of language last heard in the rise of Fascism across Europe.

This xenophobic rhetoric isn’t merely unpleasant, it’s dangerous.

If people at the so-called top of our society are talking in such terms, it gives permission for others to pick up the theme and run with it for themselves.

The Tory leadership should know better. They must be aware of the rise in hate crime following Brexit – largely in England and Wales, but let’s not pretend Scotland is immune.

Words are powerful, otherwise our politicians wouldn’t use them.

And words have consequences, which shape our civil society, leading to actions that can be for good or for evil.

The words laid down last week could so easily build a path towards an ugly, hate-filled society where anyone not deemed to be British – or even British enough – is to be treated as, at best, second-class, at worst with contempt.

That’s not the sort of place where I want to live, not the legacy I want to leave for the next generation.

Now, at this point I could so easily trot out Scotland’s escape clause. But I’m not going to.

Intolerance and injustice needs to be challenged wherever and whenever it arises.

It is on the rise right now in the society we inhabit at present.

So if we hear it, we need to challenge it. If someone thinks being racist or xenophobic is acceptable, they need to be told it isn’t, whether that’s a leading politician or a Facebook friend.

Today is when we need halt this step towards the unacceptable that could so easily become a march towards darkness

Wheel out advice to every motorist

The Think Bike campaign is vital for keeping motorcyclists safe on our roads from numpty motorists.

But there are some numpties on two wheels who need to “Think Car”. As in staying on their own side of the white line and not overtaking on blind bends on rural roads.

I rounded the curve to find a posse of motorbikes heading at me. Two were clearly going to get in in time, just, the third had me braking, full beams on. At least they were remorseful. Holding a finger up does mean sorry doesn’t it?

Revved up over sleepout

I learned a lot during my recent sleepout with Aberdeen Cyrenians in Asda’s Garthdee car park.

One thing I discovered had nothing to do with the plight of the homeless or the rough sleepers.

I had no idea there are people who think a good time on a Friday night is getting in a souped-up car and roaring around creating noise and nuisance for hours on end. Seriously? Can you not just play Grand Theft Auto and leave the rest of us in peace?