Written by Janset An and Jack Baker
On 2 December 2025, student attendees of the LSESU Town Hall voted to reject the Executive Committee report. Prepared by the elected Sabbatical and Part-Time officers, the report outlined progress on their policies for the Autumn Term and what they will pursue in Winter Term 2026. The vote of rejection indicates that students do not feel the officers are delivering on their manifesto pledges.
The divestment campaign was a pressing topic at the Town Hall. Students expressed frustration over the pace and visibility of the officers’ ongoing discussions with the university’s investment policies. Since the encampment of the Marshall Building in the summer of 2024, the campaign has continued to maintain its momentum on campus. Staff launched a petition in November 2025, urging a re-evaluation of LSE’s “egregious” investment policies. Recently, the LSE Students for Justice in Palestine Society has announced on their Instagram account a new campaign demanding for divestment from BP.
The cost-of-living crisis was also extensively covered during the Town Hall. Students and Officers discussed what the Union could do to alleviate the financial burdens of students. There was a consensus that clearer updates from the Officers were needed on avenues of financial support, like the Hardship Fund.
The Accountability Board Team, the primary group that holds Sabbatical Officers to account, feels that the vote of rejection reflected students’ need for improved and consistent communication on the work officers are delivering to clarify how students can get involved with democratising campus.
The Board convened to review the Executive Report in order to determine why it was received as inadequate, and propose several key recommendations for part-time and Sabbatical officers. Their suggestions included making the executive report more specific, with a stronger focus on the impact policies have had on students, as well as an increased focus on communication to students.
Their report also recommended having specific sections dedicated to the two main student issues on campus: cost-of-living and divestment from egregious investments. They said the report should include more information on the work they are doing in these areas and practical support for students. The inaccessibility of the Hardship Fund was also mentioned, with recommendations for increased communication of its remit and who can apply.
The Executive Report will be voted on again at the WT Town Hall in March 2026. The SU says that any students wanting to make their voice heard should attend the next town hall and keep an eye out for the updated Executive Report over the coming weeks.
Statement from LSESU General Secretary Tito Molokwu:
“The rejection of the Executive Committee report at the 2 December Town Hall is a clear signal that students do not feel we are yet delivering on the commitments we were elected to uphold. That message has been heard.
The report, prepared by our Executive committee made up of the elected Sabbatical and Part-Time Officers, set out our progress over the Autumn Term and our priorities for Winter Term 2026. However, students made it clear that this progress has not been communicated clearly or convincingly enough, particularly in relation to the two most pressing issues on campus: the cost of living crisis and LSE’s continued investments in arms and fossil fuels.
Students also raised serious concerns about the accessibility and visibility of the Hardship Fund, including confusion over eligibility and how to apply. These are practical issues that have a direct impact on students’ ability to remain at LSE, and we recognise that clearer communication and more proactive support are needed.
In response to the Town Hall, the Executive Committee are currently revising how we report on our work, with more detailed and transparent updates on cost of living support, divestment campaigning, and welfare provision. This includes improving communication around the Hardship Fund and ensuring students better understand what support is available to them.”
