The idea that they knew for sure they didn't work but bought them anyway is an odd one... For what possible reason? For fun?
Even if it was 50/50 or less that they could find some usable function for them it would be a reasonable gamble.
The idea that they knew 100% that they were useless and just bought them anyway, presumably specifically to annoy people, is a bit of a stretch. I mean yeah the Tories are arseholes but that would be a bit much.