Death of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday a tragedy on so many levels: PM

Andy Burnham said ‘it’s a moment for reflection, I would say, reflecting on how how things came to this’.

The death of former Cambridge professor Jason Arday is a “tragedy” and should be a “moment for reflection”, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said.

Prof Arday, who resigned after a plagiarism row, was pronounced dead after emergency services were called an address in Battersea, south London, on Friday to reports that a man had been found unresponsive inside a property.

He told a friend he “couldn’t go on” hours before he died after being subjected to intense scrutiny over his academic career.

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 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 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 is not believed to be suspicious.

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.