THE new Cornwall councillor for Newquay Porth and Tretherras has criticised his rival after she refused to shake his hand following his win in Thursday’s by-election.

Reform UK Cornwall councillor Lyndon Harrison said he was disappointed the Green Party candidate Abigail Hubbucks declined after she finished in second place 116 votes behind.

Cllr Harrison said: “I’m rather sad that the young lady in the Green Party couldn’t shake my hand at the end.

“The democratic process was fulfilled and when someone wins the usual thing is to congratulate them, but she declined.

“It just shows a lack of character and was a bit of a shame. It was just so silly.”

Newquay mayor Cllr Drew Creek, who represents the Green Party at the authority and as the Trenance Cornwall councillor, believes Ms Hubbucks did the right thing.

Cllr Creek said: “The moment that said everything wasn’t the result, it was what happened at the count.

“When Reform’s Lyndon Harrison offered his hand, Abigail declined.

“Some will say that’s bad sportsmanship. We say the opposite.

“The way hate normalises itself is by asking you to shake its hand.

“To smile for the cameras. To treat it as just another point of view.

“Abigail refused to do that. Quietly. Calmly. Without drama.

“Because you can respect a democratic result without legitimising what someone stands for. And to every single one of the hundreds of people who voted Green in Porth and Tretherras we say thank you.

“From a standing start, with no history in this ward at Cornwall Council elections, voters helped us beat Labour, the Lib Dems, the Conservatives and an Independent candidate.

“That is extraordinary. That is a community choosing something better. That took courage from them all.

“And Abigail is exactly the kind of person this ward deserves to have fighting for it.”