The death of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday is a “tragedy” that should prompt a “moment for reflection”, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said.
Prof Arday, who stepped down after a plagiarism row, was pronounced dead after emergency services were called yesterday to an address in Battersea, south London, following reports that a man had been found unresponsive inside a property.
In the hours before his death, he told a friend he “couldn’t go on” after coming under intense scrutiny about his academic career.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Cornwall, Mr Burnham said: “It’s a tragedy on so many levels, but particularly just for everybody who knew Jason, his family obviously, his friends. We think of think of them today.
“It’s not a moment for any rushing to judgement. It’s a moment for reflection, I would say, reflecting on how 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.”
The Metropolitan Police said his death is being treated as unexpected, but officers do not believe it is suspicious.
Simon Baron-Cohen, a University of Cambridge professor and director of the Autism Research Centre, told the BBC he spoke with Prof Arday yesterday morning.
Prof Baron Cohen told BBC 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.
Prof Arday, a professor of sociology of education who in 2023 became Cambridge’s youngest black professor, resigned after a string of media reports alleged he plagiarised his PhD thesis — completed at Liverpool John Moores University — as well as other research.
An investigation at Liverpool John Moores University cleared Prof Arday of wrongdoing.
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.”
