Deputy Returning Officer’s Ruling on sabbatical officers campaigning on paid time - 24th October 2025
I have been asked to rule on whether sabbatical officers must take annual leave to campaign.
For the avoidance of doubt, this ruling does not concern whether Sabbatical officers are able to campaign in the upcoming referendums, which I am satisfied they are, in line with By-Law 9, Articles 2.5 and 2.6:
- 2.5. Members of the Executive Committee engaging in campaigning activity in referendums may only do so in accordance with their existing democratic mandates.
- 2.6. For the avoidance of doubt, where no relevant existing mandate exists, members of the Executive Committee may campaign as they see fit.
However, the salaries of sabbatical officers are paid by Cambridge SU which must, for the purposes of the election, remain neutral. Sabbatical officer time is therefore a union resource to which not all campaigns have access to.
I must consider Cambridge SU’s obligations under the Education Act 1994 to hold a “fairly and properly conducted election”. I consider that the principle of fairness requires that no campaigners be paid by Cambridge SU. Therefore, my ruling is sabbatical officers must take annual leave to engage in campaigning activity while voting is open next week.