Newcastle’s new deputy lord mayor has been forced to apologise for making a “crass and insensitive” joke about gun violence the day after a school shooting in Texas.
Veronica Dunn took up the city’s second highest civic role this week, a post that also grants her the honorary title of Sheriff of Newcastle. The long-serving Byker councillor remarked during her acceptance speech on Wednesday that she had already been presented with a Stetson hat and fake gun to celebrate her new position, while jokes were made by her and new lord mayor Karen Robinson about whether she would have access to a gun cupboard.
Coun Dunn then told the annual meeting of Newcastle City Council : “Believe you me, it is probably not a good idea for me to have one because I would not be responsible for what I might do with it.”
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The joke has been criticised by Labour colleagues of Coun Dunn, who said it was “grossly inappropriate” coming just hours after the school shooting in Uvalde in which 19 children and two teachers were massacred. 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos used a semi-automatic rifle to shoot pupils at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday.
Coun John-Paul Stephenson, who was a member of Labour’s cabinet until new leader Nick Kemp’s reshuffle this week, posted on Twitter: "I couldn’t attend [the council meeting] due to work commitments, but I am hearing that someone was overheard joking about guns? I don’t know who it was, or what the context was, but today of all days is grossly inappropriate. Shameful if true."
Former Labour councillor Arlene Ainsley also wrote: "Absolutely appalling in light of events in USA. I certainly hope whoever said it apologises for being so crass and insensitive."
Coun Dunn, who will take on the role of lord mayor next year, accepted that the joke was “inappropriate” and issued an apology on Thursday. She said: “During my acceptance speech, I made a light-hearted reply in response to comments that were made.
“In hindsight, I can see why some people may have been offended by what I said in light of the appalling events in the United States. The comment was inappropriate and I would like to apologise unreservedly to anyone who was offended by what I said.”
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