For decades, voices on the liberal and progressive left have invariably rolled out the terror-inducing accusation of ‘racism’ in order to get their way and silence opponents. It’s thus unsurprising to see, in the wake of Jason Arday’s death, that they’re still resorting to this cynical tactic, and in this case, to absolve themselves of responsibility for having exploited this vulnerable man in the first place.

To call it a ‘witch hunt’ is predictable and unfounded hyperbole

To call it a ‘witch hunt’ is predictable and unfounded hyperbole

In response to Arday’s death, Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, said the ‘level of harassment he suffered and the racism he was subjected to has been sickening’. The National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede said Arday had been subjected to ‘a public and brutal takedown that unleashed a tirade of racism.’ Weyman Bennett, co-convener of Stand Up To Racism, added that Arday’s death ‘was the result of a racist witch hunt.’

While it’s true that the newspapers expended much energy investigating the allegations surrounding Arday, not least the serious accusations of plagiarism, and did dwell on his extraordinary extra-curricular claims, to call it a ‘witch hunt’ is predictable and unfounded........

© The Spectator