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Sell up when independence goes, not before (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

later

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'before' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adverbs. Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for later that I've seen before include "Tardier" , "after an interval" , "behind schedule" , "Alert (anag.)" , "At some time afterwards" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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