Ex-Tory MP put £57 worth of teddy bears on expenses - and watchdog lost the receipt

Ian Levy, who came 3rd down Labour and Reform UK successful in his seat, told IPSA said he’d bought the teddies for prizes successful a contention for schoolchildren

A erstwhile Tory MP bought astir £60 worthy of teddy bears connected expenses conscionable earlier helium mislaid his spot - and Westminster’s expenses watchdog mislaid the receipts.

Ian Levy, who came 3rd down Labour and Reform UK successful the Cramlington and Killingworth constituency, told IPSA - the assemblage that manages MPs’ expenses - he’d bought the teddies for prizes successful a contention for schoolchildren. The bears were to beryllium fixed retired to children who asked the champion questions successful a Q&A league with Mr Levy.

A subordinate of his squad got successful interaction with IPSA to inquire if they’d beryllium claimable - and was told they would beryllium OK nether the rules due to the fact that helium was “carrying retired his parliamentary functions.” In a further twist, IPSA said their transcript of the receipt had been “corrupted” successful their strategy and could not beryllium released nether the Freedom of Information Act.

There’s nary proposition of immoderate wrongdoing by Mr Levy.

The House of Commons acquisition store sells a basal teddy named Barry Bear - named for Charles Barry, 1 of the architechts of the modern Palace of Westminster, for £16. A House of Lords equivalent, Bertie Bear, is somewhat larger and costs £18. Lord Bearsby, which is dressed successful accepted parliamentary robes, sells for £22.

The store besides stocks higher extremity bears for collectors, including 2 made by iconic toymaker Merrythought. One is named aft Betty Boothroyd, for £130. A constricted variation achromatic carnivore named aft Queen Victoria sells for £150. A cuddly Big Ben plush artifact tin beryllium picked up for conscionable £25.