The state of the Union is flagging The St George's Flag could be a harbinger of constitutional tragedy, writes Bruce Anderson. Football has contributed to a fascinating political development. In 1966, the Union flags flew as the English cheered their team to triumph. In those days, if anyone had asked, "What about the Cross of St George?", I suspect that the average fan would have replied, "What's that?" Today, it is everywhere. The popularity of it is a genuine example of spontaneous working-class culture, owing nothing to elite encouragement. So how did it migrate from the church steeple to white-van man's bonnet? Although it is more a banner than a flag, no banner is more beautiful, which is why Renaissance artists relished opportunities to paint St George. The red cross on its white background features in many fine paintings, most notably Raphael's St George and the Dragon in Washington and van Eyck's Canon van der Paele in Bruges. But it is improbable that the football supporters made their choice on aesthetic grounds. It is much more likely that the Scots are responsible. For years, the Scots have been repudiating the Union flag. Their chosen emblems are the Saltire -- St Andrew's Cross -- plus the flag of any country that happens to be playing against England. Most Scots now insist on their own so-called national anthem, Flower of Scotland , surely the dreichest dirge that was ever perpetrated by the human voice. Sung as melodiously as possible, it will sound