Mr Everitt told The Sun he’s unapologetic about “keeping fighting fit” for his constituents.
The MP for Milton Keynes posted snaps of himself sunbathing in his constituency in August while training for the Parliamentary Rugby World Cup.
A row was triggered after Mr Everitt accused the Labour leader of Milton Keynes City Council, Peter Marland, of “scaremongering” over “plans to dump nuclear waste in Milton Keynes”.
Ministers, like Mr Everitt, have strongly denied any such plans exist.
But Mr Marland said: “I am not a liar.
“The MP in question should put his shirt on and should stop taking ‘thirst trap’ pictures.
“Get off the ski slope and actually start representing the people of Milton Keynes.”
Hitting back, gym fanatic Mr Everitt said: “The only trap here is Labour’s claptrap about nuclear waste.
“I make no apology about keeping fighting fit for the people of Milton Keynes.”
A thirst trap is an attractive picture usually posted to social media aimed at gaining the attention of followers.
A spokesperson for the Department for Energy and Net Zero said: “Nuclear Waste Services is not considering any locations in or near Milton Keynes as a site for the storage or disposal of radioactive waste.
“Milton Keynes was never formally part of the geological disposal facility process, which is based on the need for both a suitable site and a willing community.”