Jason Arday: Former Cambridge university professor found dead

Ex-Cambridge professor at centre of plagiarism row found dead18 minutes agoTom McArthurITV/ShutterstockThe former University of Cambridge professor at the centre of a plagiarism row has been found dead.Jason Arday was found "unresponsive" at an address in Battersea, south London, on Friday afternoon, emergency services said.Metropolitan Police officers were called by the London Ambulance Service. A 41-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene and his next of kin have been informed, the force said.Arday resigned as a Cambridge professor of sociology of education last week after allegations of plagiarism and questions about some of his achievements. He had denied the claims.In a statement, the Met Police said: "At this time his death is being treated as unexpected, but is not believed to be suspicious."Cambridge University vice-chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice said: "We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news". "Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday's family and friends at this incredibly difficult time", she said.Arday, 41, had denied any plagiarism - but admitted errors in his work - and last week said the recent furore had led to "an unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack".The row first erupted after another academic - self-defined "race realist" Nathan Cofnas, who was sacked from his Cambridge role in 2024 - said he found numerous instances of plagiarism in Prof Arday's work and questioned some of his stated achievements.Arday's appointment as Cambridge's youngest ever black professor in 2023 was hailed at the time as a progressive moment.Some critics said the treatment of him has been motivated by racism, but others said the claims of plagiarism were legitimate.Announcing his resignation last week, Arday said the "personal cost" of the scrutiny had become "too great".He said: "While criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what I have experienced has gone far beyond scholarly disagreement."The relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love."He stressed that his resignation should not "be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me".