Prime Minister Andy Burnham has described the death of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday as a “tragedy” and a “moment for reflection”. Prof Arday, who resigned after a plagiarism row, was pronounced dead after emergency services were called to an address in Battersea, south London, on Friday to reports that a man had been found unresponsive inside a property.
Prime Minister's Response
Mr Burnham told reporters during a visit to Cornwall: “It’s a tragedy on so many levels, but particularly just for everybody who knew Jason, his family obviously, his friends. We think of them today.”
“It’s not a moment for any rushing to judgment. It’s a moment for reflection, I would say, reflecting on how things came to this. A really sad, sad and sorry state of affairs and I think we all today think of Jason, his contribution, and his family and friends.”
Details of the Death
The Metropolitan Police said his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious. Prof Arday told a friend he “couldn’t go on” hours before he died after being subjected to intense scrutiny over his academic career.
University of Cambridge professor and director of the Autism Research Centre, Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, told the BBC he spoke to Prof Arday on Friday morning. Sir Simon told Radio 4’s Today programme: “He was being subjected to relentless scrutiny, including ridicule, discrediting absolutely every detail of his life, and he wasn’t coping with the loss of his career, the loss of his reputation, and he felt he couldn’t go on.”
“He used those words in voice notes,” he added.
Background and Tributes
Prof Arday, a professor of sociology of education who became Cambridge’s youngest black professor in 2023, quit following a series of media reports alleging he plagiarised his PhD thesis – completed at Liverpool John Moores University – and other research. Further questions were asked in the press about the truth of other claims he made, including saying he ran 600 miles in six days and that he had raised £5.5 million for charity. An investigation at Liverpool John Moores University cleared Prof Arday of wrongdoing.
Sir Simon described Prof Arday as a “kind and gentle” man who had been “bombarded by every media outlet” and used as a “lightning rod” to examine diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. He said: “At the heart of all of this was a man who’d been diagnosed in childhood with disabilities that included autism and language delay and learning differences. He was a vulnerable child, a vulnerable teenager, and a vulnerable adult, so he needed and deserved safeguarding and support and reasonable adjustment every step of the way.”
In a statement issued by his publisher Simon & Schuster UK, Prof Arday’s family said: “Jason was subjected to a campaign of sustained abuse for the more than three years since he accepted the role of professor at Cambridge University by those who would leave no stone unturned in their quest to undermine him. The campaign of misinformation was too much for Jason, who was a gentle man and who always wanted to see the best in everyone.”
Publisher and University Statements
Prof Arday’s memoir Great And Unfortunate Things had been due to be published in the UK on August 27. In a statement on Saturday, the publisher said: “Simon & Schuster is deeply saddened by the news of Jason Arday’s tragic death, and we send our condolences to his family during this devastating time.”
University of Cambridge vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said: “We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news. Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”
