- Taylor & Francis concluded an investigation into the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday without finding evidence to support plagiarism claims
- Arday made history in 2023 as the youngest Black professor at Cambridge before facing a barrage of copying allegations he firmly denied
- The organisation behind a separate inquiry into Arday's appointment reportedly received backing from a billionaire donor linked to anti-Black race science platforms
Jason Arday, the trailblazing British academic who made history as the youngest Black professor at the University of Cambridge, has been cleared of plagiarism for the fourth time since accusations first surfaced against him, a vindication that came too late for him to hear.
Source: UGC
Scientific publisher Taylor & Francis completed a review of Arday's work and found no evidence to support the plagiarism allegations that had dogged the former Professor of Sociology of Education in the final months of his life.
Some papers were flagged for corrections, and further reviews remain ongoing, but the central claims against him were not upheld.
Jason Arday's Historic Career Cut Short
Arday rose to prominence in 2023 when he became the youngest Black professor in Cambridge University's history.
The achievement was celebrated widely, but it was not long before a wave of allegations emerged, with several academics and news outlets accusing him of copying other people's work. He denied the claims.
The institution that awarded him his doctorate conducted its own inquiry and did not uphold the accusations, concluding that the issues identified were honest mistakes.
Cambridge later launched a separate investigation in early August 2026, and Arday resigned within hours of its announcement.
Days later, he was found dead in London. He was 41 years old. Police said his death was not believed to be suspicious. His family later said publicly that the ordeal had simply been too much for him.
Questions Over Who Drove the Campaign
Reporting by Byline Times has raised serious questions about the forces behind the sustained pressure on Arday. The Committee for Academic Freedom, which commissioned a separate inquiry into his Cambridge appointment, has acknowledged receiving financial support from Ben Delo, a cryptocurrency billionaire who has donated £36 million to Reform UK.
Delo also reportedly finances a Westminster office and events space for right-wing groups known as The Sanctuary.
In July 2024, The Sanctuary hosted an event for Aporia, a publication described by Byline Times as a rebranded front for a Na*zi eugenics foundation established in 1937. One of the featured speakers was Nathan Cofnas, a self-described "race realist" whose allegations about Arday played a role in fuelling the campaign against him.
Byline Times noted that a "private inquiry" commissioned by those involved in the campaign against Arday appears designed to shield the press from accountability for weeks of reporting that has since been called into question.
Arday's family remembered him as an amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son. He never lived to see himself cleared again.
Scholar who accused Jason of plagiarism suspended
In related news, TUKO.co.ke also highlighted facts about Ghent University’s suspension of postdoctoral researcher Nathan Cofnas during a preliminary disciplinary investigation linked to his statements about the late Cambridge professor Jason Arday.
Arday, Cambridge’s youngest Black professor, was found dead in south London at 41 after weeks of public scrutiny over plagiarism allegations, which he denied.
Source: TUKO.co.ke