TORIES could win more votes from young people if the school curriculum stopped promoting environmentalism and equality, MP Luke Graham suggested today.

Speaking at a fringe meeting at the Scottish Conservative conference, the Tory rising star argued that the Scottish National Party was promoting a “political agenda” which was shaping young people’s voting behaviours.

Speaking about meeting a first-time voter in a recent by-election campaign in Scotland, Mr Graham said: “The two things she raised with me, the two issues, one was environmental policies and the second was period poverty.

“All my school visits I’ve been doing, primary school, high school, what you are hearing is the environment is being really pushed in the National Curriculum.

“So they are, in a young person’s mind, doing a lot about the environment, doing a lot about ... equality as well.”

Scotland, in fact, has a separate education system to England and Wales, and does not follow the national curriculum – with a separate document called the curriculum for excellence setting the agenda in schools.

Speakers at the meeting, which was hosted by the Scottish Young Conservatives, were discussing how the party could attract more young voters and members. Another speaker had noted Environment Secretary Michael Gove’s argument that wind farms were top of young voters’ priorities.

Mr Graham suggested that the Scottish Conservatives could set a new curriculum if they win power at Holyrood. He called on the party’s education spokeswoman Liz Smith to take the lead.

“So I think it’s important that we are matching what is being taught,” he argued.

“But I think it’s also crucial that when Liz becomes Education Cabinet Secretary in 2021, that we make sure we look at that curriculum, and we are making sure we’re getting a truly balanced curriculum, that’s following a more Aristotelean view of education, rather than just a complete utilitarian or particularly political agenda – which I certainly think we’re seeing in schools more and more under the SNP.”

He went on to say that the Conservative Party should be developing policies around geothermal energy and fusion power.

SNP MP Chris Stephens told the Star: “In the week when the First Minister of Scotland and the UK Parliament have declared a climate emergency, the true face of conservatism is revealed at their conference.

“[Mr Graham’s] views on the Scottish education system are an insult to the teaching profession and school pupils across Scotland.”