Swinney plans to 'build confidence in independence'
The first minister has said the SNP will focus on building "confidence in independence" over the next few years.
John Swinney was speaking while out camaigning in Glasgow on Saturday.
He joined MSPs and campaigners in the Kelvingrove Park for a "day of action", following the independence referendum's 10-year anniversary on Wednesday.
On 18 September 2014, Scottish voters backed remaining in the UK by 55.3% to 44.7%.
Opinion polls have suggested that support for independence has not significantly increased over the past decade.
Mr Swinney said he wanted the people of Scotland to hear the argument for independence and that it would be a key part of SNP campaigning over the next few years.
The SNP leader, who was finance secretary at the time of the referendum, said his party wanted to set out the arguments for independence.
He said: "The strength and the opportunities that independence can bring, whether that's about giving us economic opportunities to trade freely with the European markets, or alternatively being able to take decisions about getting rid of nuclear weapons.
He added: "That's really what independence enables Scotland to do.
"Take control of the agenda, our future, to make sure that we can choose the prioritises that we have in Scotland.
"We can do some of that just now under devolution but we want to be able to do more with the full powers of independence."
It comes as the SNP seeks to recover from defeat in the 2024 general election, the first vote in Scotland it has lost since 2010, with a result which saw SNP MPs fall in number by 39, from 48 in 2019 to just nine.
The party faces a battle with Labour to remain in power at Holyrood after the next Scottish Parliament election, which is due to be held in 2026.
Scottish Labour say people have moved on from the referendum and did not want another vote on the issue. They party says it belives voters are now more concerned with the NHS, the economy and education.
The Scottish Conservatives accuse the SNP of not respecting the outcome of the referendum and have called for the focus to be on "issues that really matter".
