The SNP's depute leader has warned Theresa May her days as Prime Minister of a United Kingdom "are numbered" if Scotland's vote to remain in the European Union is ignored.

Angus Robertson MP, Nicola Sturgeon's newly-elected second in command, told the party's conference in Glasgow that the Tories pose a "clear and present danger" to Scotland's interests.

He accused the UK Government of pursuing "reverse devolution", taking powers away from Scotland as part of a "Brexit power grab", and said a hard Brexit would be tantamount to "economic vandalism" and put up to 80,000 Scottish jobs at risk.

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His speech to conference followed Ms Sturgeon's announcement on Thursday that a Bill for a second independence referendum will be published for consultation next week.

Mr Robertson told delegates: "Theresa May says that options for keeping Scotland in the EU are impractical, that we've had our referendum and that there will be a UK approach to Brexit.

"She refuses to accept that for Scotland, for us, remain means remain.

"My message to the Prime Minister is this: if you continue to ignore the express will of the people of Scotland, if you refuse to even consider how we might protect Scotland's place in the EU, then be in no doubt, your days as Prime Minister of a United Kingdom are numbered."

Mr Robertson also contrasted the "strong, united, effective opposition" of the SNP to the Tories on policies such as Trident and austerity with the "shambles" of the Labour Party.

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He said: "An effective opposition to the Tories is more important now than ever before. We are in a bleak Brexit Britain and we are in the eye of the storm, and there is worse, much much worse, still to come."

He confirmed the SNP will use a Commons debate next week to press the UK Government to reassure EU nationals living in the UK that their status would remain unchanged.

The SNP depute leader said: "In contrast to the work taken by our First Minister and the Scottish Government to reassure EU nationals living in Scotland, the UK Government has referred to them as cards to be bargained with. How shameful."

Referring to a rise in religious and hate crime in some parts of Britain, he added: "Let us be clear that those politicians that fuel a climate of xenophobia with their damaging policies and their reckless words must accept their share of responsibility for this.

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"The SNP will always stand up against prejudice and hatred and stand by those EU nationals that do us the honour of making Scotland their home and make such a valued contribution to our society.

"That is why today I can confirm that the SNP will be using our opposition day debate in the House of Commons next week to demand that the UK Government end this unacceptable situation right now and give EU nationals a cast iron guarantee that their status will be protected."