The recent slaughter, in Algeria, of twenty three international workers (including six Britons) by Islamic Militants at a BP owned gas plant was a sickening reminder that the problems of terrorism are still with us and a reminder too that the evil tentacles of these fanatics are able to reach out to virtually any part of the world. Our Prime Minister said that the war against terrorism could take decades to win, if indeed it is winnable, and his warnings are not to be taken lightly.

Closer to home, yesterday’s Sunday Times (a paper not known for gratuitous sensationalism) contained a report that white people in the London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest are being apprehended by Islamic vigilantes, seeking to impose Sharia law, the law of Islam. Evidently these vigilantes, calling themselves the Muslim Patrol, have forced whites to pour away cans of alcohol and have told white women wearing short skirts to cover themselves up because they are in Muslim districts where Sharia law applies. Further, it is common in these areas for advertisements deemed offensive to Muslims, such as adverts for ladies’ underwear, to be defaced and homophobic graffiti to be sprayed on buildings.

How do we react to this in a balanced, rational manner without fear of being branded intolerant and reactionary and without upsetting the liberal sensibilities and politically correct thinking of those who rule us? Well, let’s start by saying that there is one law in this land for all of us, the law of statute and common law. Secondly, there is no place for vigilantes since we have a police force to patrol the streets and enforce that law. Thirdly, if people do not like the law then they can seek to change it by democratic means.

This is the United Kingdom and that is how it works. We respect the rights of the individual, we respect and defend the freedoms of speech, movement and association, we are a free country and a democracy. Men and women are equal in the eyes of our law.

It is outrageous that any group should illegally and arbitrarily seek to impose their views, religious or otherwise, on their fellow citizens and such behaviour should be dealt with quickly. We can only hope that the authorities have the political will to act because if they don’t the road ahead is dangerous indeed.