THERESA May has been accused of a "dereliction of duty" after a key speech on post-Brexit security issues.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the Munich Security Conference, where she expressed a desire for a new treaty ensuring some level of co-ordination with the EU on security and defence.
READ MORE: Theresa May wants EU to 'ignore the rule book' on security post-Brexit
Stephen Gethins, the SNP's international affairs and Europe spokesperson, said he had done "nothing to address the real concerns" about Brexit undermining security in the UK and EU.
He said: "Yet again the Prime Minister is putting party before country, failing to tackle key policies out of fear of yet more Tory infighting.
"It is now almost two years since the referendum and the prime minister is only now addressing this critical issue – and even then she is not answering any questions about how the hard Brexiteers who are now running the show are proposing to deal with these issues.
"The real threats to key elements of our security infrastructure such as vital intelligence swapping, data exchanges and counter terrorism activities need this kind of cooperation but failure to deal with the issue again is a consequence of the Tories obsession with an extreme Brexit.
“We are now closer than ever before to that extreme Brexit which will impact on each and everyone of us. So far all we have had is Tory party squabbling and meaningless speeches.
"It is utterly shocking and a complete dereliction of duty that the UK government seem unable to answer even the most basic questions on what comes next."
May's speech set out her vision of the UK gaining more control over areas like diplomacy, peacekeeping, defence and aid in the early days of any implementation period.
While her language suggested sentiments appealing to Brexiteers, the overall suggestion was that security and defence would in fact remain largely co-ordinated.
May said: "We will want to continue to work closely together on sanctions. We will look to carry over all EU sanctions at the time of our departure.
"It is clearly in our shared interests to be able to continue to co-ordinate and deliver operationally on the ground.
"Of course, we will continue to work with and alongside each other. But where we can both be most effective by the UK deploying its significant capabilities and resources with and indeed through EU mechanisms – we should both be open to that.
"On defence, if the UK and EU's interests can best be furthered by the UK continuing to contribute to an EU operation or mission as we do now, then we should both be open to that.
"And similarly, while the UK will decide how we spend the entirety of our foreign aid in the future, if a UK contribution to EU development programmes and instruments can best deliver our mutual interests, we should both be open to that."
"But if we are to choose to work together in these ways, the UK must be able to play an appropriate role in shaping our collective actions in these areas."
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