A report from the Scottish MPs' drinks reception

Angus Robertson seemed in pretty good spirits as he stepped out, blinking, onto the terrace.

The Holyrood Magazine drinks reception, sponsored by Coca Cola Enterprises, was just getting started at the House of Commons and the SNP leader in Westminster was one of the first of Scotland’s MPs to arrive on the patio overlooking the Thames.

The sun was out and there was a sizeable number of MPs cooling down on the adjacent Strangers Bar. Beyond them, further towards Westminster Bridge, loomed the tower containing the Speaker’s House.

MPs gradually arrived – almost all of the faces were new ones - leading some of the new SNP intake to launch a tongue-in-cheek test for attending media, covering up name badges to see if they could put faces to names.

In fact such is the dominance of the SNP in Westminster that an observer might have thought the event was for the SNP – at least until Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell took his place.

Once the terrace filled up, Robertson announced: “This is an ecumenical event and I am delighted that so many SNP members are here, and delighted that the Secretary of State for Scotland is here”.

At this point, perhaps reflecting the lessons learned from their first couple of weeks in Parliament, it seemed fitting that members chose to launch into shouts of “hear, hear” rather than applause.

Continuing, Robertson said: “That is the only time you are ever going to get so many SNP members giving you a cheer David – enjoy it while it lasts.”

Mundell chuckled away, and he looked strangely relaxed surrounded by nationalist members – so much so that it was tempting to wonder if the changes to the political landscape have made much difference to him. After all, as the sole representative of the Scottish Tories, his is the only party to have seen no change since 2010.

But if Mundell looked happy enough chatting away to the SNP, it was clear party lines had not disappeared entirely. And it would have been understandable if there had been at least a little tension.

The reception took place in the shadow of the Scotland Bill, which was being debated in the chamber at the same time. In fact Ian Murray, Labour’s shadow Scotland Secretary, was in the chamber speaking for much of the event.

The day was hot – and it was a sign of Chris Law’s dedication to tweed suits that the six foot six Dundee MP attended the meeting in a three-piece.

He said he was happy to attract attention with the attire – at odds with the standard business suits adorned by members of the Commons – though given the SNP landslide in Scotland it seems likely the MPs would have attracted attention with or without the tweed.

And they have certainly attracted attention, with the media fascinated by new characters propelled into the Commons by the tectonic movements beneath Scotland's political landscape over the last year.

As Robertson put it, “The SNP now hold almost every seat in Scotland and we are now the third largest party in the House of Commons – that means that many people interested in UK politics need to understand the SNP a bit better, and that is something that Holyrood Magazine does very well.”

Urging the new SNP MPs to read Holyrood in what looked suspiciously like a plug, he looked to editor Mandy Rhodes, asking: “is that how the advert goes?”

The Holyrood editor – and managing director – came next, focusing on the way Scotland has come to dominate UK political discourse (if not its direction). As she put it, “Everything political seems to look better with a kilt on it.”

Rhodes said: “There’s no getting away from it. Scotland has changed the UK.

“Only last week, David Mundell told me that the focus at Westminster is firmly on Scotland and I would probably go further; whether it's about more powers for Scotland, creating a model for devolution which could yet apply to this place or searching for the characteristics of leadership that Nicola Sturgeon has in spades from within the contenders to lead UK Labour, Scotland is to th fore.

 “You are all part of that new political dynamic and whether new or old faces in Westminster – you are all, regardless of party, responsible for making Scotland's voice heard that wee bit louder.”

Jim Fox, Associate Director – public affairs – at Coca-Cola Enterprises came next, saying he wanted to challenge some perceptions of big business.

He said: “We have six factory sites and we employ about 4,000 people. For every person we employ, eight other jobs are created in things like supplying cans to people that serve it in shops.”

 “We have add about £2.4bn each year to the UK economy, and of that £1.3bn of taxes go in tax – some of it in VAT – and for the avoidance of doubt, we do pay our corporation tax at the standard rate.”

Summing up, he cleared up one more misconception. “People ask me, why isn’t Coke the top selling soft drink in Scotland?” The answer, he said, is because it is Diet Coke.

The mood was upbeat and the MPs were pretty open about some of the more bewildering aspects of Westminster life.

Beyond the ban on applause – something they seem to find genuinely bewildering – dress code had obviously proved an issue, with both Martin Docherty and Carol Monaghan having been subject to some withering looks from doorkeepers after arriving for votes in trainers.

Speaking to members, the need for electronic voting methods became a running theme, with SNP MPs complaining that votes can happen with little warning, forcing them to sprint from their offices on the other side of Portcullis House round to the Chamber.

The current record is apparently somewhere around five minutes.

The more experienced members have been trying to help with questions and advice over the arcane procedures where they can, though at the reception Angus Robertson, adapting to the party atmosphere, seemed more interested in questioning his new colleagues on tattoos – confessing to having one on each arm himself – than talking procedure.

Judging from the look on the faces of some of the newer MPs, the body art was news to them.

But all the while conversations were peppered with nervous glances at the display, indicating Ian Murray was still on his feet (he lasted hours) while Mundell joked with the SNP MPs that they need not worry, he would be happy to take the day off.

And in a way he was right. No one knew it as the MPs wandered around in the sunshine, out onto the terrace bordering strangers bar, yet both the SNP and Scottish Labour amendments would fail – but then, such is party politics.