A coalition of public figures, politicians, and friends of the late Jason Arday have formally requested a public inquiry into the media coverage he received leading up to his death. The letter, which has garnered over 30,000 signatures, was submitted to the prime minister and highlights claims that the former Cambridge professor endured what supporters describe as "two weeks of relentless harassment."
The letter was issued by the Good Law Project, an organization that had been providing legal representation to Arday after he resigned from his role as a professor of the sociology of education at the University of Cambridge on 5 August. The resignation followed public allegations of plagiarism and questions regarding his academic achievements, all of which Arday had consistently denied. Notably, Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded Arday his PhD in 2015, had previously concluded that he had not committed plagiarism.
The controversy surrounding Arday originated from comments made by Nathan Cofnas, a self-described "race realist" who was dismissed from his own Cambridge role in 2024. Cofnas had publicly accused Arday of plagiarism after his own contract was terminated following a backlash over his views on meritocracy and the presence of black people in high-profile positions. Lord Woolley argued that while plagiarism accusations are not uncommon in academia, Arday was subjected to a level of scrutiny that others accused of similar issues did not face.
He stated, "We have to ask this question, we have to talk about – which a lot of people don't want to talk about, is racism. You have to look at negatively differential treatment."
The call for an "immediate public inquiry into how to ensure a responsible press" has been backed by a wide range of high-profile individuals. Among the signatories are Labour MPs Diane Abbott, Bell Ribiero-Addy, Clive Lewis, and Nadia Whittome, along with actress Jameela Jamil, Green Party leader Zack Polanski, broadcaster Carol Vorderman, and former England footballer Eni Aluko. National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede and Windrush campaigner Sir Patrick Vernon have also signed the statement.
While Cambridge had announced an independent investigation into Arday’s appointment on 6 August, it is understood the university is currently reviewing whether it is appropriate to proceed. However, one of the academic's friends, Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, told Times Radio on Sunday that the investigation should go ahead to "see what we learn from it" because "this is the whole purpose of investigations." A spokesperson for the University of Cambridge stated that Arday had been provided with various forms of support, including counseling and mental health advice, both during his tenure and following his resignation, adding that this support continued despite intense public and media scrutiny.
As a prominent black professor, Arday’s appointment had been seen as a significant milestone, as black individuals comprise only one per cent of professors in UK universities. A fundraising effort launched by Sir Patrick Vernon has raised over £90,000 to support Arday's family, and a vigil organized by the group Stand Up To Racism is scheduled to be held in Trafalgar Square on Monday evening.
