Cambridge review into Arday's death will NOT investigate his work or credentials as a Post Office inquiry barrister takes charge

Jason Beer KC — the lead barrister on the Post Office Horizon inquiry and a deputy High Court judge — will chair Part Two of Cambridge's independent review into Professor Jason Arday's death, focusing on the university's institutional policies during his recruitment and tenure there. Beer has confirmed the review will not revisit the plagiarism allegations themselves or scrutinise his academic credentials. Arday, 41, died in August, nine days after resigning when Cambridge launched an investigation into his qualifications.

Beer, whose past inquiries include Grenfell Tower and Stephen Lawrence, will probe whether Cambridge's support structures for academics facing public scrutiny were adequate.

Part One of the review, examining support provided to Arday before his death, is led by former prosecutor Nazir Afzal and is due to report in early 2027.

De Montfort University professor Bertha Ochieng, chair of the Black Leaders in Higher Education Network, has been appointed to Beer's independent panel.