Green Party leader Zack Polanski has defended Professor Jason Arday, the Cambridge academic who resigned after the university launched an investigation into his academic qualifications and honorary appointments. Prof Arday quit following media reports alleging he plagiarised his PhD thesis and other research, and Polanski argued the affair amounted to a "trial by media" rather than fair process, suggesting people of colour can be held to higher standards in society.

Prof Arday, who became Cambridge's youngest black professor in 2023, also faced press scrutiny over other claims, including that he ran 600 miles in six days and raised £5.5 million for charity. Polanski had signed an open letter, alongside other prominent left-wing figures, condemning "sustained and malicious attacks" on Arday's integrity, noting two prior university investigations had found no problems. Cambridge and Jesus College have both confirmed ongoing processes into misconduct complaints, while Arday's memoir remains due for publication by Simon & Schuster this month.