CRITICS say Clacton MP Douglas Carswell “scored an own goal” – by asking constituents to describe him in just two words.

The Tory MP asked locals to describe him as part of a “60 second survey” he sent out.

Norman Jacobs, historian and Labour supporter, teased the MP on the Twitter website, suggesting the words “diddly” and “squat”

might be appropriate – a reference to former Tendring Council leader Peter Halliday’s recent accusation Mr Carswell had done diddlysquat for Clacton.

Mr Carswell responded that Mr Jacobs was being “not very nice”.

However, Ivan Henderson, leader of Tendring Council’s Labour group, said: “Politicians aren’t the most popular people at the moment, so I’m sure there will be a few choice responses which can’t be printed.

“It may be a bit of an own-goal.

“If he was really in touch with local people he would know what they thought about him.”

Mr Carswell declined to comment about the survey.

He said: “I send out a newsletter to the people I serve – not just at election time. I do a regular survey.

“I would like to thank Labour for reminding residents the newsletter goes out regularly.”