FIZZY RASCAL; Cam flouts champers ban as Tories plot wage freeze.

Byline: BOB ROBERTS

DAVID Cameron quaffs pounds 140-a-bottle bubbly with his rich chums just hours before the Tories announced a pay freeze for millions of ordinary workers.

Mr Cameron flouted a champagne ban imposed by his own party chairman who was keen to avoid accusations the Tories believe the election is in the bag.

When we caught him sipping fizz at an exclusive party, heavy-handed minders immediately moved in and tried to stop us leaving with the embarrassing snap.

Union boss Dave Prentis said: "It is sickening. This is the real face of the Tories.

"Champagne for Cameron and his crew, as though the recession never happened, while millions face a thirsty future with frozen pay, job and pension cuts."

When Mr Cameron arrived at Monday night's party at a hotel in Manchester, a minion was dispatched to get his boss some champers. The aide was overheard saying: "Can we have two glasses of champagne over here?"

As soon as we took our snap, Tory minders tried to seize the damaging picture. They had banned all cameras from the party and approached the Mirror team demanding to know "Who are you with?" But we managed to smuggle the picture out.

Mr Cameron left the party soon after.

One Tory delegate said: "He left in a hurry after he realised what had happened. He looked in a real huff about it. The last thing he wants is to be caught sipping champagne while he talks all day about spending cuts."

Tory chairman Eric Pickles imposed the bar on conference delegates drinking champers two days ago. He said the Tories had a duty to look "humble" and added: "I want to see less champagne bubbles and more bubbling activity."