CLACTON MP Douglas Carswell has backed the scheme and defended those labelled as “scroungers” who are struggling to find a job.

The Conservative politician said he was supporting jobseekers who have been left stuck in a rut since the economic downturn started.

He is backing the new Turning the Tides scheme to tackle long-term unemployment.

Clacton is one of six towns across the country picked for the project following a damning report by the Centre for Social Justice, which Mr Carswell said was a “very bad day” for the town.

“It highlighted some uncomfortable truths,” he said.

“Coastal communities have a very difficult and specific range of problems and for seaside towns like Clacton there are pockets of high unemployment.

“But the only way to change things is to acknowledge the truth and I now feel positive the report has led to some action.

“I dislike it when the Government gets on its high horse and talks about scroungers.

“In my experience, people get caught in a trap and stuck in a rut, and it is really tough.

“There are good people out there, like him, doing all the right things to get back in to work. “They need that extra special helping hand. This pilot is exactly what we need.”