The UK’s Security Minister has described as “shameful” Scottish Government guidance warning teachers against using the phrase “British values” when discussing terrorism with pupils because it could be offensive.

Ben Wallace accused the SNP administration and its Education Scotland agency of “putting PC politics before children’s safety” over the guidance, which highlighted “problematic language” that should be avoided in the classroom.

The advice criticised the wording of the UK Government’s anti-terror Prevent strategy, which defines extremism as “the vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values” such as democracy, the rule of law and tolerance.

It argued that the concept of British values “can cause offence and could play into the hands of groups who seek to assert that there is an inherent conflict between being British and being Muslim.”

But this claim was rejected by terrorism experts and Muslim leaders, who argued that British values such as freedom of expression and justice resonate with Islam’s teaching rather than contradict them.

Mr Wallace, a former MSP whose security brief at the Home Office includes the Prevent Strategy, added his voice to the chorus of criticism.

He told the Telegraph: “It’s shameful that people should put PC politics before children’s safety. And anyway, what’s the difference between Scottish and British values?”