Dozens of MPs and campaigners have signed an open letter demanding the cancellation of an event featuring Jason Arday’s accuser Nathan Cofnas at an Oxford college .

Professor Arday, who was Cambridge University ’s youngest ever Black professor, was found dead at his Battersea home in August this year after accusations of plagiarism , which were sparked by a blog post by academic and self-defined “race realist” Mr Cofnas.

The talk, organised by Oxon Universities’ Reform Society (OURS), is titled: “An evening with Nathan Cofnas: Is DEI undermining higher education?” and is set to be held at Oriel College ’s Harris lecture hall on 17 November.

But it has attracted widespread criticism from students and now a series of high-profile politicians and campaigners including Diane Abbott , Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Afua Hirsch, and Gary Younge, who have signed an open letter supported by Stand Up to Racism calling for the event to be axed.

“We value academic freedom,” the letter penned by Oxford Students’ Coalition…