TUC passes motion condemning ‘institutional racist targeting, harassment and humiliation’ of Professor Jason Arday
The motion was proposed by the UCU
Delegates at this year’s TUC Congress passed a motion condemning what it described as the ‘institutional racist targeting, harassment and humiliation’ of Professor Jason Arday.
Arday was professor of sociology of education at Cambridge University. He was found dead in his home in August 2026 following intense media scrutiny of his academic work and public claims. The scale and nature of that scrutiny has been widely described as racist, disproportionate and unjustified. Arday’s death is currently subject to an inquest.
The emergency motion was proposed by the University and College Union (UCU) and the National Education Union (NEU).
The motion agreed by the TUC stated that “Black staff and students continue to experience institutional racism, discrimination and inequality across higher education”, and “the treatment of Professor Arday is a product of institutional and systemic racism”.
The motion will see the TUC send condolences to the family and friends of Professor Arday, call on the government to take action to end institutional racism in higher education and to push for the government “to strengthen accountability for institutions that fail to address racial inequality and ensure funding and policy support meaningful anti-racist work”.
Chris Jarvis is head of strategy and development at Left Foot Forward
Image credit: ConiferousForest19 – Creative Commons
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