WITH the referendum on Scottish independence less than a month away, let me repeat my belief that united we stand, divided we fall.
A united country is a stronger one, more able to face the many challenges and threats that lie ahead, and there are many.
The rise of extreme Islamic fundamentalism across the Middle East is one such example.
The sickening beheading of American journalist James Foley only underlines what we are up against.
A united kingdom would be far better placed to deal with such atrocities and to show those who commit them that terror will never break our resolve.
Meanwhile, on Monday night, the BBC will air the second televised debate between SNP leader Alec Salmond and former chancellor Alastair Darling, who heads the ‘better together’ campaign.
The more the matter is debated, the clearer it becomes how unprepared we are for a ‘yes’ vote.
The arguments over whether Scotland can keep the pound, oil revenues or even, for that matter, the Queen, rage on.
But, as I have argued, a deep concern is how the rest of the world would view us.
Foreign Office officials have warned that our position as one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council could be threatened if we are no longer thought able to ‘project influence and military capability’.
Defence chiefs are also worried, not least because all our nuclear submarines and most of our fast jets are based in Scotland.
How any separation would affect our membership of the European Union is unknown, although Scotland’s been told it would have to re-apply.
The only certainty is that the unpicking of a 300-year union would diminish both sides.
We need to follow our heads, not our hearts.