The lectern where Rishi Sunak conceded defeat in the election has been put up for charity auction by Channel 4 comedy show The Last Leg.
The lectern – dubbed “The General Electern” – was donated by York-based production company Soapy Productions, which provided the PA and staging for the historic election count in Northallerton where Rishi Sunak officially conceded defeat in the 2024 election.
Soapy Productions owner Simon Hudson said: “We are really chuffed The Last Leg agreed to auction off our lectern.
“We knew it was going to be an historic night at the election, but we didn’t know our lectern would become the focal point at the moment of conceding defeat.”
The auction for the General Electern has been kicked off by comedian Adam Hills on The Last Leg to raise money for Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer appeal.
This is an appeal close to Simon Hudson’s heart, as he lost his mum Susan to cancer in 2007.
For the last 25 years, Simon and his company Soapy Productions has been providing speaker systems to Cancer Research UK’s Race For Life and Pretty Muddy events across Yorkshire and the Humber.
Soapy Productions is owned by Simon and Sophie Hudson, a wife and husband team providing AV and PA services for small events and charity events across Yorkshire and beyond.
The company provided the stage and AV for this year’s York Pride, and is due to provide the stages and AV for the upcoming York Proms.
