By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-08-05 19:29:15 | Updated at 2026-08-05 23:35:33
4 hours ago
A man who was at the centre of a high-profile plagiarism row has resigned as Professor of Sociology at the University of Cambridge.
Jason Arday confirmed on the Good Law Project website he would be stepping down from his position.
It comes after a series of media reports, including a story in the Daily Telegraph, alleging he plagiarised his PhD thesis and other research.
In an interview with the Times, he denied the claims and said: "I am accountable for the mistakes I’ve made. I hold myself accountable and other people should hold me accountable."
In a statement, he said: "Sadly, the years since my appointment have also been marked by an unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack.
"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.
"I have tried to continue because I believe deeply in the values of higher education, in rigorous scholarship, and in the transformative power of universities.
"I have tried because of my students, my colleagues and the countless people who have written to tell me that my journey gave them hope. But there comes a point when the personal cost becomes too great.
He continued: "I have a family. I want to be present for them. I want to reclaim some peace, some privacy and some semblance of an ordinary life.
"I no longer wish to feel as though I am living under a constant spotlight, where every aspect of my life is subject to public examination and judgement.
"For my own wellbeing, for my family, and for those who have stood by me throughout this difficult period, I have concluded that the only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away.
"This decision should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship or in the values that first brought me to Cambridge. Nor should it be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me.
"It is simply the decision of someone who has reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure."
Cambridge University had launched an investigation
Mr Arday concluded his letter by saying he needed “time to heal”, following a row which culminated with the University of Cambridge launching its own investigation.
He said: "This is not the end of my work. It is simply the end of this chapter. I need time to heal. I need time to simply be myself again and when that time comes, I will return.
"I will return stronger, wiser and with the same determination that has always defined my journey. There is still so much work to do, and I look forward to doing it alongside so many of you in the years ahead.
"For now, however, I ask only for understanding, for compassion, and for the space to begin again."
