​Brother of murdered David Haines says a ransom payment for his release would never have been considered

A ransom would not have been paid to free Scots humanitarian worker David Haines, his brother has revealed.

Haines was kidnapped in Syria and subsequently murdered by the IS terror group last year with his beheading filmed and released online.

The former RAF engineer was captured while on his maiden mission bringing aid to Syrians caught up in the country’s civil war.

He had been working for a Paris-based NGO called Acted when he was taken.

In an interview to mark World Humanitarian Day (19 August), Haines' brother Mike said the charity worker had unwavering support of government policy not to negotiate with terrorists.

He said: "David had always said that even if the government was okay with paying ransoms, if a single pound was paid for his release he would have nothing to do with it.

"We looked at every possible option, there was nothing we discounted. But putting money into the hands of terrorists only breeds more. It would make more British humanitarian workers targets.

"David would have felt very, very torn - being able to be free to see his daughters and wife again. But he would have been very unhappy that a ransom had been paid."

Mike now visits schools, religious organisations and community groups in an attempt to dissuade young people from being indoctrinated by terrorists online.

He runs the Fightback Starts Here campaign which was launched this summer with the backing of more than 100 charities, inter-faith organisations and community leaders.

Haines said: "It is not an Islamic question, it is multi-faith and multicultural.

"We all want to live in peace, we want to bring our children up in peace and have the freedom to practice our religion.

“If we let terrorist groups from whatever spectrum have their way that will not happen."