Education Secretary Lucy Powell is facing criticism for staying silent on the Jason Arday scandal, with two former education secretaries and other Tory figures accusing her of failing an early test in her new role. Professor Arday, a sociology academic accused of plagiarism and fabricating parts of his CV, resigned from Cambridge on Wednesday evening after the university launched an investigation, and critics argue the affair exposes wider problems with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices across British higher education.

Sir Gavin Williamson, Nadhim Zahawi and Suella Braverman all called on Powell to intervene, with Braverman accusing her of being "missing in action" and Zahawi calling her silence "unconscionable". Cambridge academics, including philosophy professor Douglas Hedley, questioned how Arday was appointed given his limited publication record, blaming a "DEI culture" and demanding an independent investigation rather than one led by the university itself. The Department for Education said it had "nothing further" to add when approached by the Mail.