I’M sure I am not the only independence supporter who is delighted and relieved that the worries of the last three months are finally over, and the ballot has taken place.

Relieved, because I have been concerned each day about what new twist would take place in the SNP internal warfare, being played out before our eyes by a delighted Unionist media, which might have further damaged the independence cause just before an important election for Scotland.

I have no intention of trying to identify who is to blame for this major problem, but I do think that we – all of us – who are committed to Scottish independence need to pause and reflect on what we are doing and if it is helpful to that cause.

My own view is that this internal SNP friction did not develop intrinsically from the SNP. It seems pretty clear to me where it came from.

British colonial strategy over the years shows that every attempt by a country to leave the “team” is always accompanied by internal strife and division. We read later that it was instigated by Westminster as part of its standard “divide and rule” strategy.

People make mistakes. As Burns said, it’s part of our nature. The important thing is that when you have made a mistake that you acknowledge it and withdraw it if you can.

Now, the idea that the independence movement should have two political parties is absolutely correct. A main party, the SNP, which tries to win most of the constituency seats, and a supporting party, Alba, which stands only for regional list seats.

This idea, which did not come from Alex Salmond, but one which he is now embracing, is the correct strategy in the struggle for Scottish independence. If people did not know that before it must be obvious now.

The Unionist parties have clearly recognised that the only chance they have of fighting against independence is to put “British nationalism” first and party second.

That is why they organised parties, who have fought against each other bitterly for decades, to get their members to vote for rival parties in order to stop the SNP.

They did that, and they did it very successfully in some areas – and this did, in fact, stop the SNP from getting an overall majority.

So surely, if we are as determined as they are to fight our cause, then we can match or even beat them at that game. After all, there is not a long history of animosity between SNP and Alba members, although some people seen keen to create one.

If Tories in Dumbarton can be persuaded to vote Labour, and Labour supporters in Eastwood to vote Tory for British nationalism, is it too difficult for SNP to vote Alba with their list vote while Alba vote SNP with their constituency vote?

The Unionists have worked this out and have been planning it for some time, while we have been trying to learn how to build barriers and differences between each other.

Now any independence supporter who is also a democrat will find no difficulty in realising that separate parties working together with a common important objective, but operating democratically as separate parties, is not a fundamental problem – unless you believe that the new Scotland should be a one-party state.

I do not believe that many Scots would welcome that, so why not learn now to co-operate together to build a better Scotland?

Andy Anderson

Saltcoats