SNP MPs Head To Westminster To 'Get Job Done'

It might have felt like a first day at school for Mhairi Black.

Britain's youngest MP headed to Westminster with an airport hug from her dad and words of advice from her mum: "Don't forget to hang up your suit."

The 20-year-old was among a contingent of a dozen new SNP MPs making the Right Honourable journey south from Glasgow Airport.

Other colleagues came from elsewhere - pretty much the length and breadth of Scotland, aka the power base.

Ms Black, who defeated shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander in a shock result, told Sky News it feels "exciting" to head toward Westminster and that she is "looking forward to doing my best".

"It's a very humbling experience, but now it's just excitement about getting the job done," she said.

"We want to see Scotland become fairer and we want to see more progressive politics across the whole of the UK, make sure that Scotland's voice isn't cast aside."

It's day one of an SNP adventure that the party promises will provide a "stronger voice" for Scotland at Westminster. A Conservative majority in the Commons will make it a promise easier said than delivered.

Where the SNP goes, so do questions about Scottish independence.

Over the weekend, Prime Minister David Cameron ruled out a second independence referendum. Within the ranks of the SNP itself, there were mixed messages on the subject.

Former leader Alex Salmond said he regarded the party's success as a "staging post" on the road to independence.

However, party leader Nicola Sturgeon played down the prospect, repeating her view that the election had not been about independence.

She says her immediate priority is for devolved powers for Scotland that extend beyond the Smith Commission findings last September.

The Commission promised new Holyrood controls over Scottish income tax, air passenger duty and some benefits.

The SNP says it will push for devolution of powers over employment policy, including the minimum wage, welfare, business taxes and national insurance.

The SNP insists it has not dropped its demand for full fiscal autonomy for Scotland; rather it wants to progress towards it in phases.

Their opponents, however, say they're pulling back from full tax and spend powers because it would cost Scotland more than £7bn and so doesn't suit the SNP sales pitch.