A CHURCH group’s decision to exclude a BNP candidate from a ‘question time’ meeting in Barrow and Furness has been deemed ‘undemocratic’ and ‘arrogant’ by the party.

The council of Churches Together in Barrow-in-Furness voted not to give BNP candidate Mike Ashburner a platform saying the party’s beliefs clashed with Christian teachings.

Elsewhere, Churches Together in Penrith voted not to hold a hustings meeting this year but refused to say whether the decision was because a BNP candidate, Chris Davidson, was standing for the Penrith and he Border seat .

BNP’s North West Regional organiser Clive Jefferson said: “There are clear election procedures and a public husting has to include all candidates.

“Barring one is not how democracy works.

“The church has the arrogance to think they can pick and choose who the electorate gets to hear.”

John Goddard, minister at Abbey Road Baptist Church, said: “Nobody has been banned they just haven’t been invited.

“The decision was made by the council, it was a difficult decision and not one anybody made lightly.

“It is the Christian belief that all people are created in the likeness of God, all people are equal.

"The BNP’s views on excluding people because of their ethnicity goes against this.”

Churches Together Penrith opted not to hold a hustings despite advertising in the town’s parish magazine its intentions to give candidates an opportunity to talk about their political views.

Chairman Rev Richard Hall said: “By tradition, Churches Together organise a husting meeting in order to provide a neutral platform for political debate.

“Churches in Penrith considered this possibility but in the end felt unable to provide such a platform.”