Statement by the CS executive on Jim Padmore’s resignation

We were puzzled and disappointed to read of Jim Padmore’s decision not to take his place on the Communist Students executive.

Puzzled, because his stated reasons do not make much sense. He writes that our founding conference was “politically defined according to the particular shibboleths of the CPGB”. One can hardly speak of “shibboleths” when all that is required of people to become members of CS is that they accept the platform of the organisation (as opposed to Jim’s insistence that we replace ‘accept’ with ‘agree with’).

Our organisation was set up by members and supporters of the CPGB, with the aim of uniting the largest possible communist force via a highly democratic framework. Comrade Padmore made a big contribution to this during CS’s gestation, by proposing extensive amendments to our ‘What we stand for’ document, triggering many lively debates on the subjects raised. It was a shame that Jim was unable to attend the founding conference to defend his propositions, but glossed over they certainly were not – some of his suggestions were agreed, if not many.

What’s more, if he is so concerned by the political trajectory of CS, would being a member of its executive not put him in the best position to challenge this? His resignation leaves the executive with a majority of CPGB members – how will this aid in the fight against whatever pernicious opportunism it is they’re supposed to propagate?

We were disappointed, because this is more or less the first we have heard of his concerns. We attempted many times to contact him, in order to involve him in CS activities. We were hoping to make use of his experience with Labour Party work during our intervention at the Socialist Youth Network conference, for example. But we were unable to have any sort of discussion on the problems he had with CS positions. He has retreated without a fight, which is a real shame, and in contradiction to the real interests of our movement.

We hope that he will reconsider his decision, or at least continue to participate in CS in his own favoured capacity. Should he wish to slate our political “shibboleths” at length in a polemic, we will – of course – publish it on our website.

Communist Students executive