‘Transgender Tamil immigrant’ with no British visa elected as Green Party MSP | UK | News
A transgender Indian immigrant has been elected as a Green Party MSP. Q Manivannan, a non-binary PhD student, will earn £77,711 a year despite not having a permanent visa to live in the UK.
The self-described “gay Tamil immigrant” won the Edinburgh & Lothians East Holyrood seat on Friday (May 8) and reportedly told colleagues his victory would buy him time to save for a £5,047 global talent visa. The student was allowed to stand after the Scottish Government relaxed legislation allowing non-UK citizens to represent the country.
After winning the seat, Manivannan said: “My name is Dr Q Manivannan, I am a transgender Tamil immigrant, my pronouns are they/them. I am everything that some in this country despise with hate and now I stand here diligently as your MSP.
“They say politics is the art of the possible; I think the politics of care expands the possible for everyone who is left behind, excluded, or never invited.”
The Scottish Greens candidate added: “Every obstacle put in my way with the Greens was also the reason we went further. This is what diversity looks like in power.”
Meanwhile, Reform UK’s Shadow Chancellor and Newark MP Robert Jenrick said in a post on
Manivannan, who was born in the Tamil Nadu region of southern India, has now stepped up efforts to raise money for a graduate visa after obtaining a student visa. After studying in Delhi, MSP moved to Scotland in 2021 to pursue a PhD in international relations at the University of St Andrews.
Sue Webber, the Scottish Conservative candidate for the Lothians, said ahead of the election: “Voters will be surprised that this candidate doesn’t even know if he will be able to stay in the country in the future. Questions must be asked about why they are defending Holyrood when there is uncertainty hanging over them.”
A Scottish Greens spokesman said: “The Scottish Greens are proud of our record election results and the election of Q to represent Edinburgh and the Lothians East. “The Scottish Parliament has rightly and clearly chosen to allow anyone with the right to live here to take part in the election, including new Scots on visas.
“Q holds a valid visa and is a Commonwealth citizen with the right to work and live in Scotland. The UK’s visa system is unnecessarily expensive and hostile and we are determined to replace it with a system that welcomes people with care rather than removing barriers and obstacles.”
