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Cambridge University chancellor slams 'racist feeding frenzy' of Jason Arday row after professor found dead

The head of Cambridge University, Lord Chris Smith, has hit out at a 'racist feeding frenzy' after former professor Jason Arday was found dead at the age of 41

[Jason Arday was found dead at the age of 41]

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Jason Arday was found dead at the age of 41(Image: University of Cambridge / SWNS)

Cambridge University's chancellor has hit out at what he called the 'racist feeding frenzy' around former professor Jason Arday after he was found dead amid a plagiarism row.

The 41-year-old was discovered at his flat in Battersea, South West London on Friday, two weeks after an intense social media storm erupted over allegations he copied sections of academic work and invented elements of his life story. He denied the claims. Prime Minister Andy Burnham described his death as a "moment for reflection", while Arday's family said they were "in shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son"

Arday became Cambridge's youngest black professor back in 2023 - and the head of the university, Lord Chris Smith, today said that much of the rhetoric surrounding the academic row had been "racist".

[Cambridge University chancellor Lord Chris Smith said there had been a 'racist feeding frenzy']

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Cambridge University chancellor Lord Chris Smith said there had been a 'racist feeding frenzy'(Image: Getty Images for The Cambridge U)

An independent investigation by the university into the allegations of plagiarism surrounding was launched last week, prior to his death. Arday had resigned as a Cambridge professor of sociology of education on August 5.

Lord Smith said: "I do believe it is possible to hold to two principles at the same time: to believe in the importance of academic integrity, and where criticisms of plagiarism arise, about any academic, whoever they are, ensure that they are rigorously investigated. And also to refuse to join in a racist feeding frenzy over a particular academic."

A series of media reports alleged Arday plagiarised his PhD thesis, which he completed at Liverpool John Moores University, and other research. Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded his PhD in 2015, found he had not plagiarised work. Arday admitted he was accountable for errors in his work, but told The Times: What I am not is a liar.

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 more than 5million for charity. The row erupted after academic, Nathan Cofnas sacked from his Cambridge role in 2024, said he found numerous instances of plagiarism in the professors work. Arday said some errors in his early academic work arose due to his autism, as he relied on mimicry to make sense of information.

[Tributes paid to Jason Arday outside Senate House in Cambridge]

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Tributes paid to Jason Arday outside Senate House in Cambridge(Image: Phil Rodgers)

A fundraiser for Arday's family, set up by Windrush campaigner Sir Patrick Vernon, has now raised more than 150,000. Sir Patrick said: "Britain still cares people, black, white, brown, care and feel angry about the situation. People want to support the family.

"Theres lots of speculation about how much money Jason has or doesnt have, thats not the point. The fact is, people want to support the family because hes dead, hes died, and he has a young family. He has parents and he has a family that he has supported, and people want to support the family."

A separately organised vigil for Arday will take place in Trafalgar Square at 6pm this evening. No decision will be made on whether a public inquiry will be held into the Arday case until after his inquest, the government has said.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said: "I would just reiterate the PMs point that this is a moment for reflection, and we should not lose sight of the people at the heart of this, who are Jasons family and loved ones.

"But what I would say is that obviously in due course the usual processes will take place, so that could involve, for example, an inquest. So it would be right for us to let those processes conclude."

[Attendees look on during the vigil in London]

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Attendees look on during the vigil in London(Image: Getty Images)

Tens of thousands are thought to have attended the Trafalgar Square vigil for Prof Arday tonight. A series of speakers, including Dame Diane Abbott, MP Bel Ribero Addy and other key figures in Britain's anti-racism movement stepped up to deliver heartfelt speeches to a massive crowd at the central London landmark.

Unbowed by the hot and humid weather, they demanded justice for the late academic, while hearing from his students and close friends, who said students he empowered at Cambridge University were soon to become "doctors and professors because of him". Weyman Bennett, of Stand Up To Racism, estimates 30,000 people attended tonight's vigil. Anger was palpable at the event, where after a minute-long silence speakers stood on stage in front of the National Gallery to demand justice for Professor Arday, many bearing signs reading 'Rest in power '. Attendees, many of whom broke out into tears during the more than hour-long event, heard "his name will live on".One speaker, a former student at Liverpool John Moores University, where he earned his PhD, said she eventually earned hers thanks to his help, and added that her autistic son viewed him as a hero.

She said: "My son is 11, and he struggles to read and write, and he knows to who Professor Arday was. And when he wobbles he tells me: Mum, I know I can do it because Jason Arday told me I could'." One attendee, barber Seaon, from London, told us he had attended the protest to pay his respects to a "human life", saying: "In these circumstances, the dignity that he didn't get in life, he definitely deserves it in death." In a touching tribute, Lord Simon Woolley, tearful, got up on stage alongside Dame Diane and remembered their final moments with the academic, saying he had told the Mother of the House "I love you" the week before he took his own life.

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