Gavin Williamson was “always a Conservative even  from a young age” his the education secretary’s former politics teacher said today as he recalled his time at sixth form.

Peter Ashton, who taught the education secretary at Scarborough Sixth Form College, told the Conservative party conference that Mr Williamson’s A level class was “star-studded” and had included another future Conservative MP in their midst.

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Mr Ashton said: “It only seems like yesterday that I was teaching Gavin government and politics. I have to say that he hasn’t changed a bit, he’s still as young-looking as ever.

“It was an absolutely star-studded group really, because obviously within the group there was another Conservative MP, Cherilyn [Mackrory] who’s now the MP for Truro. Presumably I can take credit for having two members high up in the Conservative party, obviously with Gavin being education secretary.

“They were a fantastic group, we had great times together - as I say, he was very respectful towards me, always a Conservative even from a very young age, even from eighteen onwards.

“He was always asking me who I voted for, and I kept saying ‘Gavin, Gavin, I’m strictly neutral, I’m not telling you’ and that’s always been the way I like to teach politics, keep it strictly neutral, and I think they all benefited from that.”

Mr Williamson said the classes used to be “quite fiery”, adding: “You always stayed totally impartial but you would sometimes very much encourage debate between students… I’m certainly incredibly grateful because I think about whether it’s Raincliffe secondary school I went to in Scarborough, then going onto college, both school and college gave me the opportunity to do the things that I’m doing today.”