SU Spring Elections 2025 Interviews: James Varney, VP Democracy & Development

In the run-up to the Warwick Students’ Union (SU) Spring Elections, The Boar and RAW 1251AM collaborated to offer all Full-Time Officer (FTO) candidates the opportunity to be interviewed.

James Varney, one of two candidates vying for the position of Vice President for Democracy & Development, spoke to The Boar about his campaign. The interview outlined his bid for major changes to SU bureaucracy and processes, his commitment to accessibility, and his vision for student-led democracy at Warwick.

What are your key manifesto pledges?

Varney outlined three key manifesto pledges: “a more affordable student life”, “an overhaul of SU democracy”, and “a safe, ethical and green campus”.

He spoke of “modernising SU democracy” through improving communications, increasing the involvement of postgraduates and medical school students, and building on the recently established postgraduate forum.

On his final point, he committed to supporting student campaigns, including demilitarisation, as well as dealing with campus security and mental health support, specifically outlining his plans to lobby Coventry City Council to ensure streetlights are turned back on during the night in Canley and Earlsdon.

With declining turnout and engagement in recent SU elections and All Student Votes, how would you make SU democracy more accessible, inclusive and engaging?

Varney outlined the importance of communicating the SU’s actions, stating “no one’s going to vote for something if they don’t believe it’s going to change”. Varney argued this requires a “cultural change” within the SU. He promoted a vision of a “different” SU “that actually puts power in student hands, and then we will see the benefits of increasing turnout and engagement”.

He addressed the issue of recent All Student Votes being cancelled, adding that better communication around motion deadlines would be key to confronting issues with turnout and engagement.

As the Sabbatical Officer leading on sustainability, how would you look to achieve Net Zero on campus, and when by?

“The absolute latest is 2030, in line with the university’s commitment”, Varney confirmed, adding: “I was previously the Environment & Ethics Officer, so I’ve seen firsthand how the University is trying to get to Net Zero, and it obviously could go a lot faster.”

He outlined some initiatives the University has taken, including “changing their recycling supplier to Biffa, which has been a huge impact”, while also commenting on some drawbacks.

“The University’s investments are very opaque”, he stated. “There’s no student representation on those boards, and it could be the case that the University is actually investing in companies which are fuelling climate collapse despite its pledge not to do so.”

Varney questioned the University potentially “funnelling graduates into careers which are again destroying the climate” and asserted that “Net Zero isn’t just the technical emissions emitted by the campus […] it’s the University’s wider societal responsibility”.

With rising living costs a major concern for students, how would you seek to keep costs low in SU outlets and encourage the University to do the same in theirs?

Varney outlined three areas he would focus on regarding living costs: grocery prices, rent, and buses.

“Prices for essentials in Rootes can be up to […] 10, 20, 30, 40% higher than in other comparable outlets like Tesco and Aldi”, he claimed. “It’s completely unfair that if you live on campus, you either have to trek all the way across to the Tesco to get a reasonably-priced almost anything. So we should focus on lobbying the University to cut costs in Rootes.”

On the cost of rent, he noted that “the University has increased its rent by 20% over the last three years on campus accommodation”, adding that this led to private landlords charging similar rates. “If the University froze their rents, or even cut them, we would see that impacting the student housing market in Canley and Leamington as well”, he asserted.

Finally, on buses, Varney mentioned issues around “frequency and reliability”, before confirming his plans to look to Stagecoach and National Express for “more student-friendly” costs. Notably, he committed to lobbying to block Stagecoach from advertising in the SU until they commit to “sorting out their services”.

As Democracy & Development Officer (DDO), you will sit with the SU President on the University Council. How would you ensure that students’ interests are communicated and represented at this higher level?

Varney clarified that the position of DDO was not confirmed to be sitting on the University Council, but continued by outlining his commitment to students. He stated: “Standing up for student interest is one of the highlights of my manifesto, it’s something I’ve done all three years since I’ve been at Warwick. This year, I sat in meetings with the CEO of the SU and the President on how they might better listen to students. I think it starts by treating students with respect.”

He explained his ambition to support part-time officers, sharing his experience as an “entirely unpaid” part-time officer, forced to work alongside his role. He stated: “Other SUs up and down the country pay their part-time officers or otherwise remunerate them […] I don’t see why Warwick SU can’t do the same”.

What makes you stand out from other candidates hoping to be Democracy & Development Officer?

“The thing that makes me stand out mostly is my vision for a different kind of SU. We need to put power back in student hands and achieve real change, and only then can we start to see the benefits of increasing engagement”, Varney stated. “I’ve got the experience to get it done. I fought for the SU, and I fought with the SU on many things over my time at Warwick, and I’m definitely ready to take the next step.”

He added: “The SU can’t just be for a certain kind of student, [it] needs to be an SU that works for everyone, whether that be postgraduate students, international students, medical school students or students that just feel let down by the SU’s lack of action.”

This interview, along with all other interviews for Students’ Union positions, can be watched in full using the link here, courtesy of RAW 1251AM. [coming soon]

Read James Varney’s manifesto here.