THE Tories have long presented themselves as the party of national security.

For decades the party has been an enthusiastic proponent of a hardline approach to defence, policing and intelligence.

Whether it was in Northern Ireland, during the miners' strike, or the use of control orders in the era of the War on Terror, the Tories have favoured security over civil rights at every turn. Yet the Tories are now prepared to sacrifice this security on the altar of Brexit. Anti-European zealotry now appears to trump defence.

The Sunday Herald has always spoken out against the scant regard the Tories have shown for civil liberties. There is a philosophical bargain to be made in weighing up freedom and security. As Benjamin Franklin wrote: "Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Such is their hatred of Europe, however, that many Tories are now happy to imperil our safety by abandoning decades of EU anti-terror intelligence cooperation and leave nothing in its place as long as it means their Brexit fantasy becomes a reality.

Not only does this leave the ideology of the Tory party utterly hollowed out - with only anti-EU sentiment at its heart - but it is a betrayal of every citizen in the land. The most important job any government has is to protect its citizens. As we know now Brexit endangers us. As such, this immeasurably strengthens the case for a second EU referendum on the outcome of Brexit negotiations.