THE Orange Order's anti-independence campaigning has support from within the Labour Party, a leading Northern Ireland politician has claimed.

The DUP's Sammy Wilson said one Scots Labour MP told him he was grateful to "see the Lodge on the street" in the weeks and months running up to the September 18 poll .

Just days before tens of thousands of Orange Order members take to Edinburgh's streets opposing Scottish independence, the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland's most senior official, Dr David Hume, has claimed it would be "failing in its democratic duty" if it did not stage a Referendum rally.

Meanwhile, former director of communications for the Ulster Unionist Party Alex Kane said he still believed voters would return a No vote "despite rather than because of the efforts of Better Together".

The Herald's final Scotland Decides supplement, published tomorrow, features the views of several prominent figures within Northern Ireland's Unionist community on the Referendum.

One of the pivotal figures in the establishment of Sinn Fein as a political force also explains why Irish Republicans have stayed largely silent on the issue.

In the run-up to Saturday's Orange Rally, Better Together has insisted the organisation will "never" be part of its operation, with some fearing the march could backfire and boost Yes.

East Renfrewshire Labour MP Jim Murphy said previously the march "shouldn't go ahead".

But Mr Wilson said: "In Scotland your biggest pro-Union party is Labour, some of whom are very socialistic indeed. You could say there's no affiliation politically with our brand of unionism. But the lowest common denominator is we appreciate we're better off in the Union. One Labour MP told me 'Sammy, I've never been so glad to see the (Orange) Lodge on the street'."

A Labour source said some within Better Together could see the parade as valuable in mobilising No - those in areas where the organisation is strong and who do not routinely vote.

Dr Hume said: "If people vote Yes we'll have to accept their democratic will.

"In this democratic debate it would be to negate responsibility not to engage because they (those taking part in Saturday's parade) have views and outlooks.

"The bottom line is that these people are citizens and tax payers who follow political debates and are engaged in their local communities."

Mr Kane said: "David Cameron has had the opportunity to be Prime Minister of the entire UK. Issues come and go irrespective. But the big family, the cultural, historic, social and common values have rarely figured. The message could be 'we'll survive, there will be hardships but we'll have different type of relationship and identity'."

DUP senior policy advisor Lee Reynolds added: "It was clear from the last Scottish Parliament elections the SNP have key strengths. Better Together either didn't identify these strengths or is not managing to tackle them anywhere near as effectively as is required."