Jason Arday, ex-Cambridge professor at centre of plagiarism row, found dead

Jason Arday, the former University of Cambridge professor at the centre of a plagiarism row, has been found dead.

Emergency services said a man was found "unresponsive" at an address in Battersea, south London, on Friday afternoon.

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 controversy about his work 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.

Announcing his resignation last week, Arday said the "personal cost" of the scrutiny of him 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".

Cambridge initially said claims of plagiarism regarding Arday's thesis and some journal publications had been investigated by Liverpool John Moores University (LMJU) and the journals in question.

LJMU - which awarded Arday his PhD in 2015 - concluded that he had not plagiarised work.

Earlier this week, Cambridge announced an independent investigation into his appointment.

In a letter to university staff at the time, Prof Prentice said: "I fully understand the concerns being raised across the university and well beyond it, regarding Jason Arday's appointment and I share them...

"That investigation, as you say, should be thorough and transparent, and will be carried out independently by senior academics from within and beyond Cambridge."