I've been reflecting on yesterday's events and how the Scottish independence movement conducts itself.

For a long time I've warned against factionalism and how the British state will exploit that to divide us. But yesterday's events have really brought that to the fore.

I didn't think that it was possible for Trump to have done the things that he has done. I credited the American people with far more sense than that.

But it really happened, and we need to draw lessons from it.

Over the past year I've seen a lot of frustration and opposing views over indyref2, with indy supporters openly attacking one another.

That HAS TO STOP.

If we don't nip that in the bud, we are likely doomed to fail.

I'm going to remind you - once again - that the British state is the undisputed world champion at Divide and Conquer. They've been doing in for centuries. By comparison, Trump is a drooling toddler - and look at the damage he has done.

So in 2021 we need to stop throwing pelters at each other. We need to stop infighting.

I don't mean that you shouldn't air differences, I'm just saying that we need to do that with respect and civility - because *any* chink in our armour WILL be fully exploited by unionists.

The independence movement is a broad church. We come from different backgrounds, different religious beliefs, different economic and social perspectives.

But we all believe one thing; that the best people to make decisions for Scotland are the people who live here.

If we allow factionalism to divide our movement, then were are lost. And we will never get another chance at this.

This is really important; by all means disagree, but don't lose sight of the prize. Be civil, be polite, and don't let yourself get dragged into idealogical fights.

Independence is a watershed, an epoch. After it we will be able to make decisions *for ourselves*. And that has always been the goal.

If we allow tribalism and partisanship to divide us before we even get a vote, then all of your dreams are lost before they even started.

You can be a part of the indy movement even if you disagree with the SNP, Greens or the ISP. We don't need to settle everything yet - that comes later, once we're *actually* independent.

Indy means getting the governments that we vote for. That's your chance to change the world.