A parish councillor in Cornwall condemned across the world after footage of him saying the Holocaust was “massively over-exaggerated” went viral has refused to resign.

He apologised to fellow councillors for the “inconvenience” and “upset” the incident caused at an extraordinary meeting last night (Thursday, June 5) where his comments were described as “absolutely abhorrent”. Others said they supported his right to free speech.

The Mylor parish councillor was caught on camera at the Great British Strike gathering on Truro’s Lemon Quay last month saying the Holocaust was “massively over-exaggerated”. The member of the far right British Democratic Party was asked by opposing protest group Cornwall Resists if antisemitism exists and he replied “technically, no”. He then went on to say “Hitler did not have beef with the Jews”.

Known by the nickname Farmer Pete, Cllr Lawrence formed the Farmers Movement Cornwall campaign group. He was elected unopposed to Mylor Parish Council in April without a public vote. Last year he stood for election as the Truro and Falmouth MP as an Independent candidate, receiving 498 votes.

Mylor Parish Council held an extraordinary meeting last night in a bid by fellow councillors to distance themselves from Cllr Lawrence’s comments, which they say are “deeply insulting and offensive”.

Councillors Patrick Polglase and Paul Baker proposed “that this council absolutely and unequivocally rejects the comments made by Cllr Peter Lawrence at a protest meeting in Truro on May 24. Whilst Cllr Lawrence at no time claimed to be speaking as a Mylor parish councillor, it is our contention that his words have brought all councillors and thus this council into disrepute by association.

“Mylor Parish Council has never been a political organisation, it exists to promote and facilitate the wellbeing of all the parishioners which it serves without exception. To make such assertions regarding a truly horrific time in our history is deeply insulting and offensive to the memory of all those who lost their lives and their families, and is not something that the parish council would ever wish to be thought of as in agreement with.”

Members of the public were allowed to speak at the packed public meeting in the village’s Ord Statter Pavilion. Michael Willmore, a recently retired member of the parish council, said: “Once anyone puts themselves forward for public office and gets elected, he or she voluntarily puts themselves in the public eye. That means they have a duty to carefully consider the consequences of their words or actions.”

He added that as a parish councillor they should not be political in what they say. “I regret, in this case, the issue discussed could not have been more controversial or political.” Mr Willmore said the code of conduct ensures that councillors should not embarrass the parish council.

“Clearly, Cllr Lawrence has done just that. Therefore, due to the reaction and anger of the public towards his recent words and deeds, I ask him to do the honourable thing and resign.” His comment received a “hear, hear” response from some of those present.

Jane Moss, a resident of Mylor Bridge, said: “This is so hard and stressful for everyone involved and I include Cllr Lawrence in that.” Addressing him, she added: “I don’t know you, but I find the questioning of documented facts about the Holocaust absolutely abhorrent.” She believed his comments “surely bring the parish council into disrepute”.

Ms Moss told the meeting the British Democrats is a far right spin-off of the British National Party (BNP), formerly the National Front, and it had claimed Cllr Lawrence as its first electoral victory. “The impression being is that parishioners knowingly voted for him, but there was no vote, so he cannot truly claim to represent us. I wish Cllr Lawrence would do the right thing and resign.”

A young villager who moved to Mylor six months ago said that everyone he spoke to in his local pub was “appalled” by the things Cllr Lawrence said. He added that to hear the councillor’s “blatant Holocaust denial” was “terrifying”, so much so that it made him wonder if he should leave Mylor if Cllr Lawrence didn’t stand down.

There were a number of people at the meeting who were supportive of Cllr Lawrence. Robert Ashworth told the meeting he was Jewish and that many of his family on his mother’s side had been killed by Ukrainians not the Nazis. He said that he thought it was a witch hunt against Cllr Lawrence, adding that “not once did Pete deny the Holocaust, he is only in denial about the amount of people who lost their lives”.

A Jewish woman, living in the parish, who also lost family during the Second World War retorted that Cllr Lawrence’s comments were “absolutely appalling”. She added: “It was actually Ukrainian fascists who killed the Jews. You could make a link there with Mr Lawrence’s said allegiance to the British Democratic Party.”

A man said that free speech in the UK is all his Jewish in-laws wanted. “It makes their lives worthwhile to allow that. I think we should listen to what has been said [by Cllr Lawrence] and consider it carefully”. A woman replied: “I’m quite surprised because I didn’t think this meeting was going to be a discussion of whether or not the Holocaust happened. I thought it was going to be a discussion about whether it’s appropriate for an elected representative to take part in what is ostensibly a crime, which is denial of documented fact.”

“Whether or not what Pete said is true or not, people should be able to speak openly and freely,” said another member of the public. “Not being able to speak freely is a form of fascism.”

Jonathan Griffin, the former director of the National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth, said it wasn’t a question of freedom of speech but a question of who’s representing the community on the parish council.

“Someone who is in denial of the facts of three major issues: the Holocaust, antisemitism and climate change, I do not find it credible that they can represent me and represent the community of Mylor or the parish council when he is in denial of those facts and takes such a cavalier attitude. He is not the right person to be in a decision-making role on the parish council.”

Following the public part of the meeting, parish chairman John Symons stressed that the council did not have the power to dismiss a councillor. Anybody thinking Cllr Lawrence had breached the code of conduct should contact Cornwall Council’s monitoring officer, he added.

Cllr Paul Baker, who seconded the proposal, told the meeting he believed Cllr Lawrence’s comments were at the “far end of extreme”. He added: “I understand Cllr Lawrence remains resolute in continuing as a councillor. Whilst I would prefer not to work alongside Cllr Lawrence, who has only just joined us – and I have considered resigning – I believe I’ll best serve and protect the parish by remaining a councillor.”

Cllr Lawrence, who had sat quietly listening to all the comments, then stood to address the meeting. He said that a press release from the British Democrats clearly stated he was elected unopposed. Of his comments at the protest, he added: “I will offer all members of the council an apology, of course, for the inconvenience this has caused to your time.” He again said he was not at the Great British Strike rally in any official capacity as a parish councillor.

He said it was not his intention for any of his words or opinions – caught on video by what he described as “communist group” Cornwall Resists – to cause offence. “I appreciate the subject matter is of an emotive nature and I do regret that some of my responses were poorly articulated, and therefore could be misinterpreted or seen as disrespectful by some.”

He said the “content has been framed beyond my control” and the reporting “severely politically biased”. Cllr Lawrence added: “Nonetheless I wish to apologise for any upset caused by my involvement in the incident.” He went on to say challenging claims about the war “does not make you an antisemite or a Holocaust denier, accusations of which I both reject”.

Cllr Lawrence abstained from the vote but he was censured after all other councillors voted in favour of the proposal. He had previously told the council chairman and clerk he would not resign as he wanted to serve the community.

Cornwall Council have been asked if any code of conduct complaints have been made against the councillor.