The SNP are to make a renewed push for independence almost a decade on from the 2014 referendum, as the party looks to rebuild after a damaging election defeat.
Speaking at his party's conference in Edinburgh, John Swinney admitted that voters have stopped listening to the SNP after internal data showed a quarter of a million voters switched to Labour.
"Never again will we go into an election with people thinking: 'I like this idea of independence, but that can wait, because I'm more concerned about the economy, or my job, or the cost of living, or the NHS'," he said.
"My promise to you is that I will make sure that independence is understood as the route to a stronger and a fairer country. Understood, not as nice to have, but as urgent and essential here and now.
"That is how we will make independence happen."
Mr Swinney's 38-minute address to the party conference didn't contain any new policy proposals as his party prepares to make £600m of spending cuts.
The First Minister will set out his programme for government on Wednesday.