CLACTON MP Douglas Carswell’s comment about trouble within the Liberal Democrat party has been shortlisted for a funniest political tweet award.

The Ukip MP is one of six finalists in the Funniest Tweet category of Westminster Public Affairs’ Political Twitter Awards 2015.

His Tweet read: “Are there enough Lib Dems left to form a circular firing squad?”

Mr Carswell said: “Most of the time when I say something funny on Twitter it is probably accidental. It is one of the greatest perils of Twitter, – you’re never sure how people are going to read it.

“I think the key to Twitter is not to take yourself too seriously.

I’m delighted someone in Westminster reads my tweets, but I’m more interested in making sure people in Clacton read them.”

Earlier this month, Mr Carswell’s five-year-old daughter accidently sent a tweet from his iPad inviting followers to play the game Hello Kitty with him. It was retweeted hundreds of times by his followers.