Jason Arday death ‘tragedy on so many levels’ says PM

The death of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday has been described as a "tragedy on so many levels" by the Prime Minister, prompting calls for reflection on the circumstances that led to his passing. Arday, 41, was found dead in Battersea, south London, on Friday afternoon, with his family expressing shock over the sudden loss.

The university vice-chancellor, Prof Deborah Prentice, and Education Secretary Lucy Powell both expressed their condolences, urging people to remember the real people affected by such tragedies. Arday had resigned from his professorship at Cambridge last week following allegations of plagiarism and questions about some of his achievements, which he denied.

His family suggested a "campaign of misinformation" had contributed to his mental health decline. Friends and colleagues described Arday as kind and gentle, with one mentioning he had shared an office with them at university and participated in setting up a student radio station. Eamonn McCrystal, a friend, noted Arday had described feeling "destroyed" and had told him about the revocation of his travel visa to the US.

Arday had faced media scrutiny and allegations of plagiarism for years, with his resignation reportedly due to the "profound toll" it took on him and his loved ones. The National Education Union and Lord Paul Boateng, the UK's first black cabinet minister, criticized the racism and harassment Arday faced, calling for an investigation into the issue.