British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Saturday the death of an academic - who was the University of Cambridge's youngest ever Black professor but who resigned after accusations of plagiarism - was a tragedy that needed reflection. "It's a tragedy on so many levels, but particularly just for everybody who knew Jason, his family obviously, his friends. We think of them today," Burnham told broadcasters, a day after Jason Arday was found dead at the age of 41.
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Arday, who frequently appeared in the UK media, resigned as a professor of sociology of education at Cambridge earlier this month following the accusations. Arday's family on Friday said he had been the victim of a campaign of misinformation and harassment.
Deep Dive
What led to Jason Arday's resignation from the University of Cambridge?
How did Jason Arday's family describe the circumstances surrounding his death?
What actions is the University of Cambridge taking regarding Jason Arday's appointment?
Also Read | Jason Arday plagiarism row: What was the Cambridge professor accused of before his sudden death?
"It's not a moment for any rushing to judgement," Burnham said. "It's a moment for reflection, I would say, reflecting on how things came to this."
Also Read | Jason Arday cause of death: What happened to Cambridge University's youngest ever Black professor?
{{/usCountry}}Also Read | Jason Arday cause of death: What happened to Cambridge University's youngest ever Black professor?
{{/usCountry}}Cambridge said this week it would investigate the circumstances of Arday's appointment to the Faculty of Education and his work there after he faced accusations that parts of his PhD thesis were plagiarised, which he denied.