SALES of Irn Bru have soared at Westminster thanks, it seems, to the influx of SNP MPs and their penchant for Scotland’s most popular soft drink.

New figures, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, show that sales of the famous orange-coloured fizzy drink have shot up by 60 per cent in the year after the Nationalist landslide at the 2015 General Election when the party took 56 out of the 59 Scottish seats, making the SNP the third largest party in the House of Commons.

Bars, cafes and vending machines across the parliamentary estate served up 8,708 cans or bottles in the financial year 2015-16 up from 5,452 the year before.

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The 2015-16 total is more than double the 4,285 bottles and cans of Irn-Bru bought in 2012-13, according to the latest figures.

Thirsty MPs, their aides and other parliamentary staff are on course to drink another 8,493 cans or bottles by the end of the financial year next April.

The SNP MP Patrick Grady, who represents Glasgow North, said Irn Bru gave politicians "sustenance" through the long days in the Commons, which often sits well into the night.

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"Barrs, which produces Irn-Bru, is an independently owned company, which plays an important role in the economy of central Scotland and the country as a whole,” he explained.

"Famously, Scotland is the only country where Coca-Cola is not the biggest selling soft drink. But it looks like we're making progress in the House of Commons and perhaps the taste will catch on among MPs and staff from south of the border," added Mr Grady.