As we mark the 10th anniversary of the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence, when the potential for real change was in the air, this is as good a time as any to reflect on the events that have followed and where Scotland is now, after David Cameron told us to ‘lead, don’t leave’.

It says something about the hope and belief that still exists in the case for the people of Scotland to make their own decisions about their future, that support for independence remains steadily at around 50%, in the face of so many challenges.

Even more encouraging is the fact that in Orkney, where the biggest ‘No’ vote of 18th September was delivered, an event is being held on Wednesday evening as part of a national Believe in Scotland Rally for Independence. Knowing the passion of Yes Orkney’s independence campaigners, I am sure there will be a good turnout at Kirkwall’s St Magnus Centre from 6pm to 10pm on Wednesday, giving folk an opportunity to take stock of where the independence movement is right now and what needs to be done to build support.

The referendum brought me into politics, and I have been reflecting on the journey I have made, from that 17-year-old spending time reading books, blogs, and briefings on the case for independence to help me decide how to vote. The more I read the more perplexed I was that Scotland had gone for so long stuck in an archaic system designed not to let us make the changes and the progress that we need to make.

And that was before the chaos of Brexit; before years of damaging austerity under the Conservative and LibDem Coalition and then under a disastrous procession of Tory Prime Ministers and Chancellors; before the economically illiterate and damaging Truss budget.

And now we have the Tory Party’s Better Together bedfellows, UK Labour, making Tory policies their own as they ramp up Austerity 2.0.

Energy prices that Labour promised to reduce are about to rocket ahead of winter, and they have slashed winter fuel payments to pensioners at the same time, with Orkney pensioners among those set to be hit hardest.

‘Read my lips’, said Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, ‘no austerity under Labour.’ That really hasn’t aged well.

If ever there was a time to change course from allowing Westminster to dictate Scotland’s future it is surely now.

Over the last decade, the SNP has built a social security system based on dignity and respect, delivered a new, progressive income tax system and created a Scottish National Investment Bank.

Small independent countries across Europe are wealthier, they’re happier, they have higher productivity and lower inequality, have fewer people living in poverty and higher levels of investment.

As we look to how we can build a better, fairer future for Scotland, it falls on the SNP as the party of government to rediscover the sense of optimism and hope amongst our fellow Scots. To unite our country, to win our independence.

This is a regular column by SNP MSP Emma Roddick. All Highlands and Islands MSPs have been offered the same space in The Orkney News to share their personal views.