We’re constantly assailed by dire warnings that we’re not squirrelling away enough into a personal pension pot. What constitutes enough is generally left blank.

Saving for tomorrow is commendable. It promotes independence and is to be encouraged by government.

It can do this best by not building in means-test traps for the thrifty.

However, the first responsibility of government is to ensure that nobody is left to live an uncomfortable old age rather than badgering the relatively well-off into deferring material gratification to twilight years.

Sadly, for some, those years will never come. Beyond a prudential level that ensures the State will not have to bail you out, jam today is a perfectly rational lifestyle choice.

* I object to the term Islamic State.

As the Muslim Council of Britain has said there is nothing Islamic about barbarians who cut heads off innocent people with knives.

State implies nation, but IS isn’t a country, rather a profoundly evil cult.

Some of the individuals implicated in IS atrocity are apparently radicalised British passport holders.

They must be identified and face all the severity the law allows.

But there is a cadre in our society which holds that the fault lies with the radicalising effect of the Iraq war, Afghanistan or Israel’s attacks on Gaza.

According to them it’s perfectly understandable that people nurtured in the west should go on tour eradicating all dissenters in their way, subjugating women in the most despicable ways imaginable and removing heads in front of cameras.

It’s as if it’s not their fault at all.

Well, I predicted in 2003 that the war would have a backlash, but I say to our liberal apologists they are dangerously wrong.

There must be zero tolerance for those that prosecute, facilitate or encourage violent Jihad.

* As I write, the abolition of Britain is too close to call. If it’s a Yes we’re in for a real rocky ride.

Either way, it’ll be time for cool heads and an ocean of goodwill.