Lib Dem candidate slammed after calling fishing village ‘most inbred in Britain’

The post read: “Skinningrove…urgghh. Possible contender for most inbred village in Britain.”

The post, which was posted in 2010, resurfaced last year and Joy initially laughed it off.

She told Teessidelive that she was being sarcastic, as it was the village that she had grown up in.

Joy did however concede that “it does look really bad on social media, I appreciate that”.

She has now expressed regret for her scathing remarks about the coastal village, after being asked by Councillor and resident Barry Hurt if she would “kindly apologise” to residents.

“At the time I thought I was being edgy, funny, ironic when I wasn’t and I am reminded of that everyday by my children,” she said at a council meeting on December 21.

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“Clearly the comments did not come across in the way I had intended, and I am sincerely sorry to anyone from the village who was upset or angry with me.

“I’d like to say to anybody from the village who was embarrassed, angry, and rightly so, I am really really sorry.”

Speaking to The Sun, Joy said: “I thought it was an ironic and sarcastic comment to write what I did, in the same way folk often say ‘it’s grim up North’ while showing delightful photos of rolling hills or beautiful coastlines.

“Around that time there had been a documentary made about the village showing it in a negative light unfairly and this was my clumsy way of making a nod to that inaccurate documentary.”

Joy was selected in October as the Liberal Democrat prospective Parliamentary candidate for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland.

Sir Simon Clarke, a Conservative MP who currently sits in the seat, said that it was “right” for Joy to say sorry for her words.

He told The Sun: “I was shocked to read about Ms Joy’s slur on my constituents in Skinningrove - you won’t find a more decent or more generous community anywhere in the country.

“While a certain amount of village rivalry is a fun part of life in East Cleveland, this wasn’t the tone of these remarks.

“It’s right Cllr Joy has apologised, but I doubt Grovers are impressed. The Lib Dems too often preach kindness but practice disdain for people who don’t share their archly middle class world view.”

Councillor Hunt, an independent representing Brotton and a Skinningrove resident who told Joy to apologise, said: “I would like to thank you for that and wish you well in your campaign.

“I’d say this to all of the candidates if you were lucky enough to get in, can you please not forget Skinningrove.”

A Liberal Democrat spokesman said: "Jemma Joy has apologised, she grew up there. We agree with local resident Barry Hunt, this is 'dirty politics' to dredge this up.”