A Conservative minister has suggested people drink a bottle of £170 champagne to ward off the misery of coronavirus.

Christopher Pincher recommended a bottle of Krug Grand Cru Cuvée to wash away the dark days.

Writing in the Critic magazine Mr Pincher, Minister of State for Housing, urged people not to go the for the usual Tory tipple Dom Perignon but the Krug.

He said it tasted of “tart satsuma” with a “light, tight, nutty effervescence”.

He added: “It is ideal for lifting the spirit and lighting up a darkening winter afternoon.

“So, if you have the chance, or the wherewithal to buy a bottle, these bubbles will brighten your family bubble and provide an alternative vaccine until the real thing provides more permanent inoculation against the memory of last year.”

However, Labour called the MP “truly out of touch” with his remarks.

Labour’s Mike Amesbury – Shadow Housing and Planning Minister – said:

“With every dot and comma of this column, Chris Pincher has shown how truly out of touch and breathtakingly arrogant he is.

“While leaseholders were having sleepless nights about how they would find thousands of pounds to make their flats safe from dangerous cladding and more than half a million in rent arrears or temporary accommodation struggling to make ends, the Housing Minister was recommending they buy bottles of champagne costing £170.

“Chris Pincher should be fixing the massive problems facing leaseholders and those in desperate need of good quality, affordable and truly sustainable housing, not writing articles about luxury wines.”

A spokesman for Mr Pincher declined to comment.