Nicola Sturgeon announced a fresh push for Scots to realise the “beautiful dream” of independence on Saturday.
Speaking at her party’s spring conference in Glasgow, Scotland’s First Minster said the SNP would not "browbeat” their countrymen into leaving the UK, but they would launch a campaign this summer to build broader support for exiting the 300-year-old Union.
In 2014, Scots voted against independence by 55 percent to 45 percent following a fractious referendum campaign.
"We will achieve independence only when we persuade a majority of our fellow citizens that it is the best future for our country," Sturgeon said.
"Making and winning that case is our challenge and our opportunity,” she added. “That is why I can tell you today that this summer the SNP will embark on a new initiative to build support for independence."
Invoking former US first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Sturgeon said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
"Our dream is for Scotland to become independent,” she continued. “To be in the driving seat of our own destiny, to shape our own future. And on the basis of equality with our family across the British Isles and our friends across the globe, to play our part in building a better world. That is a beautiful dream. And we believe in it."
“Our dream is for Scotland to become independent. To be in the driving seat of our own destiny, to shape our own future”
Earlier this week, the leader of the Scottish Conservative Party accused the SNP of trying to “con” the Scottish public into voting for independence after figures emerged showing how the collapse in North Sea oil had dented the country's finances.
Speaking on BBC’s Question Time, Ruth Davidson claimed the SNP had been “found out” over its claims each Scot would be £500 better off out of the United Kingdom.
