Top tips for PR army on its first trip

Do mention the rugby – but not the football. That is the a dvi c e bei ng gi ven to t he hundreds of sharp-suited PR executives from Britain’s top companies who are in Aberdeen this week to schmooze the country’s third biggest political party.

For many it will be the first time they have attended an SNP conference.

So to help them overcome any unease over their… well… Englishness… t hey have been given some useful dos and don’ts when meeting t he SNP’s foot soldiers.

The key message? ‘Don’t worry about your accent.

‘Your childhood holiday memories of Granny’s highland home or long-lost Scottish relatives are nice, but no one’s examining your personal Caledonian credentials,’ the advice insists.

And for those used to the London way of life, there is encouraging news that Aberdeen is not as backwards as they might expect. ‘Do rest assured Aberdeen has mobile coverage/ Starbucks/ Pret a Manger/ accepts English banknotes.’

The advice has been provided by one of Scotland’s leading public relations experts, Alastair Ross.

As at any conference, most of the hard work is done at the hotel bar. And Mr Ross has also provided a handy guide for that: DO mention the rugby, with Scotland set to t ake on Australia i n the World Cup tomorrow.

But DON’T mention the football, f ollowing yet another humiliating European Championship campaign that saw Gordon Strachan’s men fail to make the play-offs.

Mr Ross concludes: ‘Do wrap up warm – Aberdeen may have a lovely beach, striking architecture and impressive landscapes but a snell wind can blow through the city.’

That advice has been taken onboard by the media pack in the city, as journalists have been dumped in a marquee in the conference centre car park.

As I write this, there are people in scarves and blankets. Clearly, the media still hasn’t been forgiven for exposing SNP lies in the independence referendum campaign.