Scottish Independence: What does the Saltire flag symbolise?
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Version 0 of 1. The Saltire is the flag of St Andrews, a white diagonal; cross on a blue field, supposedly the Christian symbol for the crux decussate, the shape on which the saint was crucified. But it means more than that. It is iconically Scotland: Murrayfield in the annual battle against England; Bruce and Bannockburn and the battle against King Edward’s England - any battle against England. And in case Ed Miliband - who has called on people across the UK to fly the flag - doesn’t know, it’s the oldest continuous sovereign flag in the world. It was incorporated into the design of the Union Jack – but doesn’t represent the Union. When the early Scottish nationalists were looking for a representative symbol they struggled, because the Saltire wasn’t theirs. But it is now. Mr Miliband’s efforts to reclaim the Saltire looks strangely ill-timed. |