Boris Johnson argues that the University of Cambridge bears greater responsibility than Jason Arday for allegedly failing to scrutinise his background before appointing and promoting him. He says academics may have used Arday’s story and identity for institutional purposes, while criticising the prospect of a memoir that could expose him to further public ridicule.

The column refers to reports that Arday resigned from his Cambridge professorship after questions about alleged plagiarism and claims in a book proposal concerning illness, achievements and honours. Johnson highlights apparent inconsistencies in accounts of Arday’s education, autism and endurance-running feats, but presents these as reasons Cambridge’s appointment process should have identified concerns earlier.