A referendum for the Student Union (SU) to lobby for the demilitarisation of the University of Leicester will open tomorrow (27^th  January 2026), with campaigning beginning today. 

The proposal was taken to the first Leicester 100 meeting on the 4^th of November 2025. 

What is a Referendum? 

A referendum is where the public vote directly on a specific issue. 

In this instance, students will be voting on whether the SU should encourage the university to stop partnering with weaponry companies. 

The YES Campaign 

The ‘YES’ campaign states that the university is partnered with six weaponry companies who make F-35 fighter jets. 

The F-35 jet is “the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world”.

According to the ‘YES’ campaign, these jets have been used by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in Gaza “to kill hundreds of thousands of people”.

The university also partners with Airbus, who have suppled military craft to the UAE Forces who the ‘YES’ campaign states “are funnelling arms to militias within Sudan”. 

“The career and employability service routinely invites arms companies and other war profiteers onto campus to advertise [jobs] to students”. 

Adam Tyas, an engineering student on the ‘YES’ campaign, said: “No institution like the university who claim to be ‘Citizens of Change’ should be associated with these organisations.

“The student union should always be anti-war.”

Ethan Cross, leader of the ‘YES’ campaign said in a statement: “A lot of you are angry about what is happening in Palestine and Sudan and to any people oppressed by Western imperialism. 

“We ask that you take that anger to the ballot box tomorrow, and together we can start to force the university to stop this barbarism. 

“We need all of you to vote YES to demilitarisation”.

The ‘NO’ Campaign 

The ‘NO’ campaign insist that they “do not want to support a plausible genocide”, however they argue that demilitarising the university would result in “damaged relationships” and would threaten the interests of students. 

They also state that “this policy creates a political stance from the university, which can cause the union to undermine its careers service and harm students’ prospects”.

The ‘NO’ campaign instead suggest an ethics committee, where students can “actively scrutinise and guide research partnerships”. 

“Let us choose the constructive dialogue that is able to protect student interests, fosters real-world ethical scrutiny, and uphold our legacy as pragmatic and highly regarded ‘Citizens of Change’”. 

Engineering student Mason Fisher told the Ripple: “The only thing that demilitarising will do is reduce the amount of opportunities available to students”. 

Another student, David Levett said: “As I’m going into defence, engineering isn’t really about weapons. It’s about safety, protection, and preventing harm.

“A lot of tech is dual use and ends up helping civilians too, I think it’s more nuanced than just cutting all links”.

What will Happen if the Referendum Passes?

• The SU will issue a statement condemning the university’s partnerships with these companies, highlighting that they are supporting a plausible genocide. 
• The statement should urge the university to ban arms companies from careers events, disallow any promotion of these companies, and commit to cutting all research relationships come the end of all existing contracts. 
• The SU should organise regular meetings with upper management to issue student concerns. This includes defending their right to protest. 
• The SU should refuse to work with the careers department and university for any future events until the above actions are implemented. This includes not using SU staff hours and not allowing events to go ahead inside the SU building. 

You can find all the information on this referendum and how to vote here.