Trans Green Party candidate with no British visa elected to Holyrood

[IwantToRetire]

Q Manivannan, who identifies as non-binary, was elected as an MSP on the Edinburgh & Lothians East list for the pro-independence Scottish Greens.

It was reported earlier this week that the former PhD student has appealed to colleagues for £2,089 of funding for a temporary graduate visa.

This would give the anthropologist and poet a further three years to work and live in the UK, picking up the taxpayer-funded MSP salary of £77,711.

Manivannan is said to have told colleagues this would help buy time to save up the £5,047 cost of applying for a global talent visa, the UK immigration category for promising individuals in specific sectors.

The self-described “queer Tamil immigrant” was only able to stand in the election after SNP ministers loosened the rules over who could be a Holyrood candidate.

Full article https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/05/09/trans-green-party-candidate-migrant-elected-holyrood/
And at https://archive.is/LhZYy

Reform couldn't have dreamed for a better headline!

I actually believe that a lot of people who vote Green (having spoken to people casually prior to the election) still think they represent environmental issues and when I pointed out the crazy policies, were very surprised. Scottish voters tend to be quite partisan and will continue to vote for "their" party even if it's changed beyond all recognition. It's what the SNP relied on to keep getting votes and they were right to do so, considering they got most of the seats again. Despite their abysmal record. It's depressing but hey ho.

There was an article in the Times about the partisan nature of Scottish politics this week:
https://www.thetimes.com/article/05e78476-2c3a-4905-8d0a-270514c6af3d?shareToken=7bbd38402978a123b1a281519a876e4f&ver=article

Yes, I'd say that that is precisely what is happening.

I have to say that I’m enjoying the reaction to “Q” from the Scottish Nationalists who give the Green Party their second vote for independence reasons.

Their inclusive and progressive facade has slipped seeing foreigners elected to the Scottish parliament. 🤭🤭

I agree. I’ve spoken to a couple of people about voting green, they had no idea it wasn’t all the lovely wholesome stuff

They also have a PhD.

The big irony here is a lot of the Reform supporters complaining about Dr Q won't have anything near a PhD and will be spending a lot of their time drinking in Wetherspoons.

Almost as if the motive for the hate is actual hate based on skin colour or gender identity, rather than genuine discussions about what they can contribute to society.

You are clearly posting here just to cause turmoil. Eg

"...a lot of the Reform supporters complaining about Dr Q won't have anything near a PhD and will be spending a lot of their time drinking in Wetherspoons."

You do realise that, saying that your opponents are just thick idiots that don't know any better, is intended to incite inflammatory responses.

You will notice that I didn't end that last sentence with a question mark.

This is because I wasn't asking the question "Do you realise...?". But simply stating the fact that you do indeed realise that this is the situation and that this is what you are deliberately setting out to do.

I'm not too sure if you're just a cynical manipulator who is posting just for kicks and the purpose of engagement, or on the other hand, you're somebody similar to the sort of person that was referenced by a person who was in a debate at the Cambridge Union the other day.

She said earlier in March:

"Instead of seeing your opponent as somebody you disagree with, you see them as morally wrong. So it’s not, 'I’m right, you’re wrong'; it’s, 'I’m right, you’re bad.'"

Personally, I think that this is the position that you are coming from.

You may wish to reflect on this.

I'm not sure why you posted that here (apart from for the reasons outlined by @Another2Cats).

Most people posting here are not Reform supporters, so your insults about the intelligence of such people are irrelevant. Many people who post here are, however, well educated, so your comments about intelligence and education are again irrelevant.

So I'll ask you a single question. Do you believe that people who are not British citizens, and only have a temporary visa to visit the UK, should be in our parliaments, where they are participating in making laws for this country? If this man is deported when his visa expires, he could be making our laws while having no right to live in the UK himself.

Please do tell me what you think this person is going to contribute to society, I'm all ears, I don't down the pub until tomorrow.

Having a PhD doesn’t mean they’re going to make a better MSP. He studies subjects like protests and resistance movements.

I feel seen

Reform supporters? I think you'll find that SNP MSP Ian Blackford is amongst those questioning Mannivan's position.

Ian Blackford isn’t an MSP.

No, he's a former SNP MP.

Are you claiming that he now supports Reform?

What?

Are you struggling to keep up with the discussion?

No I’m struggling to understand your bizarre response to my post to someone else.

I probably met too many PhDs to think a PhD must always mean a superior intellect.

I'll help you out. The other poster was helpfully pointing out to you that it's not only Reform supporters who are questioning the appointment as an MSP of a foreigner with a temporary student visa.

An example was given of former SNP MP Ian Blackford as someone who has questioned this. The other poster mistakenly identified him as an MSP, rather than a former MP. This is an unimportant distinction in the context of this discussion, since the important aspect was the party he represents, not whether he is or was an MP or MSP.

Your post saying he's not an MSP was totally missing the point.

If you read all the posts in order, you might find it easier to follow discussions in future.

HTH.

I have read them. HTH

He represents no one btw. HTH.

But Crone, different's post was purposefully missing the point as a distraction tactic.

Yes, I realise that. But I don't think they liked having it pointed out that their distraction tactic just makes them look as though they're a bit stupid and can't follow a discussion.

You’re lovely aren’t you?

What I do find odd about the faithful is that they must support every single thing the approved parties do, no matter how bonkers

No room for nuance