The Mayor of Newquay has quit the Green Party and joined Labour on Cornwall Council, saying the party’s controversial ‘Zionism is Racism’ motion ‘crossed a line’.
Councillor Drew Creek, who represents Newquay Trenance and had led the Green group at Cornwall Council, announced his decision after spending several weeks considering his position.
The Green Party of England and Wales adopted the motion at its national conference on October 4.
The motion defines Zionism as an ideology supporting ‘an ethnonationalist Jewish state in historic Palestine to the exclusion and/or domination of the non-Jewish population’ and supports a single democratic Palestinian state.
The policy has attracted criticism from Jewish organisations and a number of senior Greens.
Cllr Creek had already publicly opposed the motion after attending the conference, saying he was ‘dead against’ it and had voted against it.
He described its adoption as setting a ‘really dangerous precedent’.
Announcing his departure from the party, Cllr Creek said: ‘I want you to hear this from me directly. I have decided to leave the Green Party and join the Labour group on Cornwall Council.
‘It wasn’t a decision I made lightly. I have spent several weeks thinking it through.
‘The motion passed at the Green Party’s national conference this month, and the direction the party has taken since, is something I cannot support or stand behind.
‘I have kept trying to make my peace with it, and I can’t. I would rather be honest with you about that than carry on representing a party whose position I don’t share.’
Despite leaving, Cllr Creek said he continued to have ‘great respect’ for his former Green colleagues in Cornwall and would work with them on issues where they agreed.
He also insisted the change of party would not alter his priorities for Newquay.
‘My commitment to Trenance and to Newquay is exactly the same as it was the day you elected me,’ he said.
Cllr Creek said he would continue pursuing his Love Treloggan project, tackling issues around the Boating Lake and pressing Cornwall Council for greater investment in Newquay, as well as improvements to housing and infrastructure.
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Addressing residents who elected him as a Green councillor, he added: ‘I know some of you voted for me as a Green, and I respect that completely. If you have questions or concerns about this decision, I genuinely want to hear them.’
He said his position as Mayor of Newquay would remain non-political, adding: ‘As Mayor of Newquay, I will of course continue to serve the whole town without party politics. That role is for everyone, and this decision doesn’t change that.’
Cornwall Green Party said it was ‘deeply saddened’ by Cllr Creek’s departure and praised the work he had done as a Green councillor.
It said there were differing views within the party over the motion.
His move means Cllr Creek will now sit with the Labour and Co-operative group at Cornwall Council.
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