The President of the University of Sheffield’s Students’ Union, Daisy Watson, has resigned from her post just weeks before the start of the new academic year.
After being re-elected to serve a second consecutive term in charge of the institution in March, her decision to prematurely return to full-time study leaves a power vacuum at the top of the student-led governing body, with it being unclear how the position is to be filled at such short-notice.
The Students’ Union has announced that they will provide updates in due course and are prioritising how to “ensure continuity of the leadership, support, and governance responsibilities of this role.”
Watson released a public statement following the announcement, describing the Presidency as “one of the most profound and challenging experiences of my life.”
Explaining her decision, she noted that: “leadership means acting with integrity, even when that means making difficult choices. After much thought, I believe stepping down is the most honest decision, for myself, the organisation, and for the students who placed their trust in me.
My respect for the student movement remains strong, and my belief in what students can achieve together is deeper than ever.”
Perhaps pre-empting concern over the direction of a rudderless SU, she argued that “the 2025/26 Officer Team is made up of passionate, principled, and deeply capable individuals, each bringing their own vision, energy, and commitment to the role.”
Watson expressed “full confidence in their ability to lead with courage, integrity, and care for our student community.”
Her tenure was defined by her skirmishes with the South Yorkshire Combined Authority over growing public transport costs for students, whilst making efforts to strengthen ties with Sheffield City Council and increase the importance of students in University decision-making.
In a statement on their website, the SU stated that: “We would like to thank Daisy for her hard work and achievements, and wish her well for the future”, also reassuring students that “Your SU Officer team 2025-26 continue to represent, support, and champion our student community, and are currently planning new impactful campaigns and events for the forthcoming academic year”.
Daisy was first elected to the Presidency in March 2023 by a slim margin of just 125 votes, following an election which saw 4,308 ballots cast at 21% turnout.
