Yesterday on Blue Peter (a long-running UK children's show, in case you didn't know), they announced a new competition. Children have to send in designs based on the theme of "Best of Britian", and the winner will have their design placed on the tail fin of a British Airways jetliner. Nothing wrong there. But then the presenters gave some examples of what they thought would be good on the tail fins. The new presenter, who's from Northern Ireland, cheerfully held up her design.

The Red Hand of Ulster.

Now, the legend of the Red Hand goes back a few hundred years, but there's no doubt that for the past century, it has been associated with the UDA (Ulster Defence Association), a umbrella group for Loyalist terrorists.

Good choice! I look forward to the "No Surrender" tail fin. For reasons of balance, if nothing else…