Kemi Badenoch has condemned calls for a press inquiry following the death of Jason Arday, warning that his death is being exploited by cynical, Left-wing opportunists to attack press freedom. The Conservative leader also accused Cambridge University of failing in its duty of care by placing Arday in a role he was not ready for. The Telegraph has the story:
Kemi Badenoch has warned that the death of Jason Arday is being used to attack press freedom.
The Conservative leader said it was “appalling” that the death of the former Cambridge professor was being used to call for “a muzzling of the press”.
She also said the University of Cambridge had “failed in their duty of care” towards Mr Arday by elevating him to a “position that he was not ready for”.
Mrs Badenoch made the remarks in an interview with The Telegraph after Zack Polanski, the Green Party leader, demanded an inquiry into the “culture and behaviour” of the press.
Mr Arday was found dead at an address in Battersea, south-west London, earlier this month.
He had resigned as professor of sociology of education at Cambridge on Aug 5 following allegations of plagiarism and questions about elements of his life story. He was the university’s youngest-ever black professor.
Asked about his case, Mrs Badenoch said: “He was used in his life by certain quarters, and now his death is being used by others to further a different agenda – one which is really about an attack on press freedom.
“I think that’s appalling. I don’t think that Jason Arday’s death should be used as a way to bring about a muzzling of the press. Freedom of the press is something I very much believe in.
“Meritocracy is also something I very much believe in. And if he had not been put in a position that he was not ready for, it’s unlikely that that tragedy would have unfolded. And it’s really Cambridge University and others in that education department who have a lot of questions to answer and how they failed in their duty of care.”
Mrs Badenoch said she was opposed to a public inquiry into the media coverage of Mr Arday.
Worth reading in full.
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“Not ready for”. Nonsense. Not suited for.
Kemi is the most impressive of all the party leaders. Shame about her party, which is still infested with wets.
Kemi, just say it…..The man lied, and Cambridge did not do due diligence when they hired mr. Arday. Please leave the silly press out of it. They of all groups serve no purpose. Turn all msm off, it is a terrible waste of your time.
“…position that he was not ready for”
Dunno about “ready”.
He was given a position based only on the colour of his skin and for which he was completely unqualified
Nailed it, Dave.
She seems to say all the right things. And then, she doesn’t.
I don’t have a problem with a leader getting it right. If it is after a pause for thought or advice so what. We have too many fire from the hip politicians elswehere making stupid calls and U turns.
“Leader”? The Champion Bandwagon Jumper, you mean?
Here’s my favourite photo of her, which best represents her true feelings:
Kemi Badenoch ‘broke Army cadet rules’ with assault rifle photo shoot | Politics | News | Express.co.uk
The left becomes more radicalised and emboldened by the day. Regulating the press to silence inconvenient truths is a step towards totalitarianism. This country is heading towards a dark place.
Drain the swamp that was once the jewel of British education and expose all the slithering, slimy creatures that inhabit its depths, hiding from scrutiny.
Gosh!
I have not read more than two dozen previous commentators say the same.
😂 Brilliant. Yet again, the Champion Bandwagon Jumper is stating the blinking obvious…
“But don’t worry!” said her advisers. “Just keep wearing that royal blue colour, and everybody will think you are Margaret Thatcher.”
Fine by me!