POLITICIANS in North Dorset are backing a clergyman’s decision to ban a carol from Christmas services at four churches in the district.

The Rev Stephen Coulter, the rector of Bryanston, Durweston, Pimperne and Stourpaine, has removed the carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem, from Christmas services in his benefice.

Mr Coulter’s stance follows a recent pilgrimage to Bethlehem, at which he pledged to raise the profile of Palestinians living in the town under Israeli occupation.

“I’m not taking a party political stance on either side. I’m lobbying for Britain to play a bigger role in bringing peace to both Palestinians and Jews,” he said.

“At Christmas, Bethlehem becomes a symbol for us all. I cannot sing the line ‘How still we see thee lie’ when just a couple of weeks ago I saw first- hand that it is anything but still.”

North Dorset MP Bob Walter said the clergyman’s action was “entirely legitimate”.

“I think generally that religion and politics should be kept separate, but the point Mr Coulter is making is that Bethlehem is a religious site,” said Mr Walter.

Mr Walter has written to the foreign secretary, David Milliband, at the clergyman’s request, lobbying for sustained pressure from the British government for a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict.

Mr Coulter went public on his difficulties with the carol during a sermon for civic leaders at a service hosted by Lt Col Michael Oliver, the chairman of North Dorset District Council.

Cllr Oliver told the Daily Echo he agreed “with every word” of his concerns for the people of Bethlehem.

“I wouldn’t call his action political. It was a very emotive sermon given from the heart. It will wake people up to what is going on in Bethlehem,” he said.