Conservative MP Steve Brine said targets on reducing sewage overflows to be met by 2035 are “just too long” for many of his constituents.

The MP for Winchester said: “What we need here in this whole debate is some cool, some balance, and deal in the facts. There has been some deeply grubby, irresponsible scaremongering over this summer from some of the usual suspects.

“So, in the spirit of honesty and truth, 2035, which I appreciate is a long way away, is just too long for many of my constituents.”

He asked what the choices are that he and bill payers would face “to speed things up significantly”.

Environment secretary George Eustice said: “It’s not the case that nothing will be done until 2035. Indeed, investments are happening right now to improve over 800 priority storm overflows.

“We will see a reduction in discharges across the country of around 25 per cent by 2025 and then we will continue and go further out until 2035.

“But the estimated average increase in water bills for the actions, the £56bn package that we set out to 2030, will be in the region of £12 per year, were we to go further it would be around 10 times higher than that every year.”