The statement from the Communist Students executive regarding comrade Jim Padmore’s resignation from that body contained a factual error which I would like to correct.

The statement claims that Jim’s resignation letter (Letters, January 11) is “more or less the first we have heard of his concerns”. This is not entirely accurate, as Jim had telephoned me after reading the report on CS’s launch conference (‘CS conference debates way forward’, December 14). In this telephone call, Jim outlined a number of reservations he had about the CS project based upon the Weekly Worker report and stated that he was unsure as to whether he would take up his place on the executive.

However, the political argument still stands, and Jim’s latest argument does nothing to convince me why he cannot fight within CS, including on its executive, for his politics. He bemoans the fact that Tina Becker, “who, at the time, wasn’t even a student”, participated. Tina was enrolled on a course she was about to start. I find it absolutely ridiculous to suggest that someone in this position should not have been involved in the conference. Also, as Jim well knows, Mark Fischer was there in the capacity of an observer from a supporting organisation (the CPGB). It strikes me that Jim really is clutching at straws if he considers these facts as arguments for his non-involvement.

The political issues that Jim raises regarding the Marxist position on the state, theories of imperialism and how we fight fascism are not even issues upon which there is unanimity within the CPGB, let alone a line which has been forced upon CS.

On the question of fascism and how to fight it, we plan to initiate a debate in the forthcoming edition of Communist Student on this very issue. This will feature an article that Jim Padmore has written for us on this issue and a response from a CPGB comrade.

Having already read them, I can say that I have differences with both approaches. However, the last thing I intend to do is proclaim that “I’ve no interest in being linked to this kind of nonsense”, as Jim does in his latest letter. I will engage in the debate whilst building the organisation. I hope Jim decides to do the same.

Dave Isaacson
CS executive member