Ex-Tory MP put £57 of teddy bears on bills – and watchdog misplaced the receipt

A former Tory MP bought nearly £60 worth of teddy bears on expenses just before he lost his seat – and Westminster’s expenses watchdog lost the receipts.

Ian Levy, who came third behind Labour and Reform UK in the Cramlington and Killingworth constituency, told IPSA – the body that manages MPs’ expenses – he’d bought the teddies for prizes in a competition for schoolchildren. The bears were to be given out to children who asked the best questions in a Q&A session with Mr Levy.

A member of his team got in touch with IPSA to ask if they’d be claimable – and was told they would be OK under the rules because he was “carrying out his parliamentary functions.” In a further twist, IPSA said their copy of the receipt had been “corrupted” in their system and could not be released under the Freedom of Information Act.

There’s no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Mr Levy.

The House of Commons gift shop sells a basic teddy named Barry Bear – named for Charles Barry, one of the architechts of the modern Palace of Westminster, for £16. A House of Lords equivalent, Bertie Bear, is slightly larger and costs £18. Lord Bearsby, which is dressed in traditional parliamentary robes, sells for £22.

The shop also stocks higher end bears for collectors, including two made by iconic toymaker Merrythought. One is named after Betty Boothroyd, for £130. A limited edition white bear named after Queen Victoria sells for £150. A cuddly Big Ben plush toy can be picked up for just £25.