POLITICIANS are being asked to ditch the Saltire as Scotland’s national flag because its “Christian symbolism” has little relevance to large sections of the population.

A motion being presented to the Scottish parliament will ask MSPs to approve a new “rainbow” flag that better reflects Scotland’s cultural and ethnic diversity.

Colin Fox, leader of the Scottish Socialist party, claims the Saltire, which features the cross of St Andrew — Scotland’s patron saint and one of Christ’s disciples — is a dated relic. He believes that Scotland, as a secular country inhabited by people from many different religions, should no longer have a Christian symbol as its national emblem.

The Saltire, one of the oldest flags in the world, has been used since 832AD, when St Andrew is said to have appeared in a vision to Angus MacFergus, the Pictish king, on the eve of the Battle of Athelstaneford against the Northumbrians. The colours represent white clouds in an azure sky.

Last year Jack McConnell, the first minister, ordered every public building in Scotland to fly the Saltire, which remains a firm favourite with fans at football and rugby internationals. However Fox believes it is an “anachronism” and that it is time for it to go.

“Who was St Andrew? He was someone who never came here, so his connection to Scotland is tenuous to say the least,” he said. “I’d like the Scotland of today to reflect the many different cultures here. Scotland now has a considerable Asian population and a small and important Chinese community, as well as Irish people. A flag that is blue does not convey the impression of a multitude of backgrounds and interests.”

Fox said Scotland should consider adopting a flag similar to the multicoloured emblem used by post-apartheid South Africa, dubbed the rainbow nation.

Read More Here