"Something has shifted in Scotland. The saltire, which was long embraced by supporters of Scottish independence, has now been unfurled for a different cause. Up and down the land, the blue and white of St Andrew is fluttering from lampposts and being waved alongside the union flag at anti-immigration protests. Until recently those two standards were more often seen on different sides of the debate about Scotland's future."
"With his shoulders wrapped in the red, white and blue of the union flag, he spoke of the saltire. "They claimed our national flag as their own and for 12 long years we've allowed them to wield it as a weapon of division and hate. But no more. We have reclaimed our flag, our identity, our pride and also our resolve," he said."
The saltire has migrated from a symbol of the independence movement to a feature of anti-immigration rallies, appearing alongside the union flag across Scottish cities. Demonstrations in places such as Perth, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Falkirk show competing displays of national symbols and provoke controversy. Figures like Steven Rennie fuse opposition to independence and immigration while sharply criticizing the Scottish National Party. Rallying supporters, he framed the flag as reclaimed and accused the SNP of harming national prosperity and prioritizing newcomers. The protests highlight conflicting visions of patriotism and identity in contemporary Scotland.
Read at www.bbc.com
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