Cleverly: Cambridge Used Arday for Bragging Rights

Jason Arday was used by the University of Cambridge for “bragging rights”, Sir James Cleverly has claimed.

The shadow communities minister said that the late 41-year-old would not have been in such a “terrible” and “personally exposed position” had universities done their due diligence.

Sir James added that higher education establishments presented Mr Arday with “glee” because of his age and ethnicity rather than his talent.

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Taking aim at Mr Arday’s former employer and attitudes in wider higher education, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It could and should have never come this far.

“If people within the university establishment, not just Cambridge, had done the robust due diligence and checking that should happen with any senior academic appointment.

“I can’t help but feel that the rush to use Jason Arday as a bragging right by some universities – the glee with which they said ‘we’ve got the youngest-ever black professor’, talking about his age and his ethnicity rather than his talent – I think was part of the reason he was lifted so high so quickly.”

He said such positioning meant that when scrutiny did come, Mr Arday had “so far to fall”, which he described as “a terrible, terrible situation”.

Sir James added that it was “quite possible” that the scrutiny of Mr Arday was “motivated by racism”.

However, the issues highlighted were “genuine and legitimate questions”, he added.

He continued: “Had those same questions been asked by the institutions involved, he would never have been in such a personally exposed position.

“The point is, anyone who puts themselves into the public eye should expect scrutiny – and he was pushed into the public eye.

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