Welcome to the University of Warwick Left Society!
Our society aims to liberate voices of marginalised groups within our University space as well as nationally, as we are committed to the left wing values of the labour movement.
Recently we underwent a rebrand, moving away from our previous name of Warwick Labour towards who we are now: Warwick Left Society. We believe that our society no longer aligns with the political leaning and decisions of the current Labour Government and Party. Like many left wing councillors and MPs, we are moving towards another area of UK politics, where there is space for leftist groups like ours.
The rebrand of ‘Warwick Labour Society’ to ‘Warwick Left Society’ is, for us, a significant milestone that many of us have been waiting and hoping for. For much of the exec, Warwick Labour was never solely about the Labour Party, but rather about being a truly left-wing society with socialism at its core. While the society has been rebranded to better reflect our ideological beliefs, those values were already deeply embedded within the society even before the change.
We’re one of the most active political university societies in the country, holding regular events, talks, and socials. We are very active nationally, attending and being a part of campaigning sessions in the local areas of Warwickshire and beyond. This year we had over 200 members. We love all things leftist, and welcome you to all of our events! So join below for FREE and be sure to follow us on Instagram for all the latest events, insights, statements and to see how to get involved. You can also follow us on TikTok. @warwickleftsoc
Campaigns
Campaigning is crucial to our society and we do a lot of it. We make a difference on campus through a mix of internal campaigns and collaborations with other societies, raising money and awareness for important issues.
We are part of the Warwick Left Network, a collection of societies and students on the left who strive to make a difference at Warwick, as well as in collaboration with Student Staff Solidarity Network. We are also proudly one of the societies in coalition with Warwick Stands With Palestine, campaigning for divestment on campus.
This year, we have created and elected the role of Trade Union Liaison Officer to encourage our members to get more involved in these organisations. We recently attended a picket line in Nottingham to support underpaid NHS workers in association with Unison.
We run regular campaigning sessions in Coventry and Leamington where we have had incredible conversations on the doorstep, campaigning for change. Under our previous name, Warwick Labour worked tirelessly in the General Election that was called in 2024 to get Zarah Sultana re-elected into Parliament, working alongside leftist figures such as John McDonnell, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Ian Byrne, Kim Johnson and holding multiple campaigning sessions a day! Recently, we have been campaigning for our former Chair, Grace Lewis, the Councillor for Westwood.
Our External Campaigns Officers are still working on how campaigning will work this coming year after our rebrand. It is our intention to become more aligned with the new political party, currently under Your Party. However this is not confirmed nor our entire reason for rebranding. Campaigning for this new party is certainly a possibility for this society and we will be working closely with other Left, socialist and Your Party societies across the country, building the new left student movement.
Campaigning can be daunting if you've never done it, but don't worry as we have a brilliant team of External Campaigns Officers with amazing experience on the door step, and of course we often hold socials after!
Socials
To unwind we have a huge range of socials that run regularly, both ones that involve alcohol and sober socials. From bar crawls across the Parade of Leamington, to packed circles to club nights such as the SU's POP, film nights and live streams of political debates, there’s something for everyone! Circles are a huge deal at Warwick Left Soc. As we have two amazing Social Secretaries, our circles are rammed with games, fun and great people. We also run charity circles where we raise money for our charity of the term in the most fun way possible. We often collaborate with other societies on the left for socials; such as our garden themed circle with Climate Justice this term and our Halloween circle with 93% Club. The social events offer opportunities for members to connect, collaborate, and engage. Whether it's unwinding on a bar crawl, supporting great causes in charity events, or getting competitive at a games night, there’s always something to look forward to. Check out our Instagram for the latest information.
Talks and Events
Our Talks and Events Officers hold a multitude of events that range from political discussions, to speakers on the left, to our much beloved Pints and Policy event where topical debates get heated (but funnier) under the influence of alcohol! Our most recent P&P event debated whether or not Labour should form a coalition with the Tories, and the chances of Karl Marx winning against 100 gorillas (it’s safe to say Marx won that fight!). High-profile speakers from Parliament and the wider political sphere come in to bring you insight from politicians, campaigners and thinkers. We also often collaborate with other societies on campus to hold debates on various current affairs, on topics such as education. We are excited to invite a variety of speakers to campus. Speakers have included Zarah Sultana, Becky Gittins, Richard Parker, Owen Hatherly, amongst many others.
Liberation
Liberation is fundamental to the politics of our society. The values of anti-racism, feminism, LGBTQ+ liberation and the liberation of disabled people are inextricable from class politics. We have five active liberation caucuses which hold their own events and seek to work with the liberation societies on campus as closely as possible! These include LGBTQIA+, Trans, BAME, Disabilities and Mental Health (DMH) and Women's caucuses. We hold events such as Feminist Movie Night and circle with societies such as PLAN, and are in support of Warwick Disability Liberation who are a group of radical students advocating for accessibility on campus. Our new caucus leads for the coming year recently held an event to meet them and see what caucuses at Warwick Left Soc mean. Our previous caucus leads held a cupcake and cookie decorating event, and sold these to provide funding for the recent NHS strikes in Nottingham.
Charities
Join us in making a difference, with an array of different Charity Events - circles, film screenings, bake sales, or unique fundraising events - organised by our Charity & Welfare duo, support meaningful causes through internal collaborations with our own Social Secretaries and wider university society collaborations such as our upcoming events. Explore our past and upcoming charity events through keeping up to date on our socials! Looking ahead, our new duo are excited to be organising all sorts of new opportunities to make a meaningful impact. Whether you’re passionate about community support, environmental initiatives, or humanitarian aid, there’s a way for everyone to contribute.
LEFT Magazine
We have our own blog and magazine where we encourage members and left-wing students on campus to write about issues that matter to them and also write about current affairs. Our new Editor in Chief of LEFT has many amazing plans for these new editions. We most recently printed an edition which included articles on the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of “women” and local election results, as well as art work. These are available on our website and on LEFT’s separate Instagram page @leftmagwarwick, which includes the link to LEFT’s online blog which is regularly updated.
Sports
Our 5-a-side team plays regularly against other society teams. And we get involved in mixed and women's netball. Last year we held a much beloved Sports Day, organised by our Sports Officer, who invited along our friends in the Warwick Left Network. We had an egg and spoon race, football games and even a BBQ in the sun. During the time of the Euros, we have attended screenings of the England games. Sport gives members a chance to relax and let off steam. We even play against other political societies!
Follow our Sports Instagram to find out more! @warwickleftsport
Ball
At the end of each academic year we host a ball for our members, alumni and friends to celebrate our achievements throughout the year and finishing exams. We hosted last year's ball at the Riverside Glasshouse in Leamington. There, our Charities & Welfare Officers and Ball Officer organised fundraising directly for people affected by the conflict in Palestine; we sold polaroid photos and guessed the number of petals in a jar, raising a total of £145. Ball is one of the most exciting events of the year, and we always have the best speakers to liven up the party. Last year we were excited to host our speakers MP Zarah Sultana and Former Chair of Young Labour, Nabeela Mowlana. This year we held our ball in the beautiful venue of Leamington’s Victoria House.
Tour
Tour is a much expected event that we host annually. Our most recent tour took us to Bristol, which was an amazing weekend full of fun and getting to know each other even better. During this general election period, we have taken mini tours to Clwyd East in Wales and to Sheffield, taking our brilliant team of campaigners out to canvass. We aim to keep tour as affordable and accessible as possible for all to come who wish. We are in the works of deciding our next tour destination.
Best Events / Highlights
Over the years, Warwick Left Soc has hosted some unforgettable events which bring people together, some of our favourites include;
Legendary Bar Crawls, a staple of our social calendar, nights of laughter creating lasting memories. Some notable themes from the last year include Dress Like A Tory and our fun Bingo. Merging fun with purpose, we saw a successful Charity Bar Crawl last year raising funds for important causes.
Stepping into an evening of celebration at our annual Red Tie Ball, where great company, unmissable moments, and a touch of tradition come together for a truly spectacular night.
Our lively Pints and Policy gatherings, where thought provoking (and some more light hearted motions) debates unfold over a drink with some exciting collaborations this Term with Discourse and Homeless Action Society.
When we welcome renowned voices, it’s more than just a talk, it's an opportunity to engage with inspiring perspectives. With a history of strong turnouts, it is impossible to ignore our special appearance by our own well-known local member of parliament, Zarah Sultana. This annual event is one you won’t want to miss!