A novelty toy maker has been stuck with hundreds of toys of ex-Prime Minister Liz Truss, after receiving his shipment a day after she quit Downing Street.
David Farquharson, 30, put in the order for 500 dog toys on the day she won the Conservative vote to replace Boris Johnson.
He was told the £3,500 shipment would reach him in 45 days - but Truss left office after a record low 44 days leaving the businessman with a huge collection of toys in the ex-PM's likeness.
David, from west London, told My London: "It's been such a funny experience honestly - it took longer to get a dog toy made than she even spent in office.
“I couldn't even be angry, it was just funny. I thought she would have a bit more longevity and I thought she would be the next relevant thing but she has been and gone so quickly.
“Initially, I was going to make a Boris Johnson toy but then partygate happened and I thought I should hold off.
“Once the leadership race started and I could sense Liz Truss was going to win, I thought, 'I'm going to get ahead start on this'.
“Around two weeks before she was elected, I said 'I'm going to put all my chips in on her.’”
Despite leaving Downing Street, the Liz dog toys have proved popular as he received orders from people in the likes of Germany, the USA, Canada and Norway as well as the UK.
David added: “I'm all about the fun spirit of things and you've got to try these things to learn.
“I've sold around 300 now and the rest are currently sitting in my bathtub because that's the only place I could put them.
"Next time I do it, I will find a character who might have a bit more longevity to them. It's interesting the type of people buying it as well; people who are Liz Truss fans, people putting it on their mantlepiece and some buying it for their dogs.
“It's so funny. I have spoken to some retailers about trying to stock Liz but it seems not many people want Liz Truss.
“It really is funny how things have gone, I can't even be angry.”
Ms Truss quit the Premiership in October after weeks of turmoil in Downing Street and furious backbench MPs expressing no confidence.
In a statement of just 88 seconds, she said she was unable to deliver on her mandate from the summer's Conservative Party leadership election.
Speaking in Downing Street, she said: "I have therefore spoken to His Majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative Party.”
