A non-binary transgender Indian national, born in Tamil Nadu, has made history by becoming the first foreign citizen elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), despite not holding a permanent UK visa. Dr Q Manivannan, a former PhD student, won the Edinburgh & Lothians East seat on Friday for the Scottish Greens, becoming one of the first two transgender MSPs ever elected to Holyrood.
Election and Identity
Addressing supporters, Manivannan said: "My name is Dr Q Manivannan, I am a transgender Tamil immigrant, my pronouns are they/them." Their election has sparked controversy, with Migration Watch stating: "Indian migrant Dr Q Manivannan, who arrived in Britain on a student visa, is now a politician in Scotland pushing for the breakup of Britain."
Salary and Visa Status
Manivannan will receive an annual salary of £77,000 (Rs 99 lakh) despite not having the right to work full-time. They are currently crowdfunding £2,089 to fund a graduate visa that would allow them to remain in the UK for an additional three years. Manivannan is on a student visa that permits part-time work.
Background and Political Stance
Manivannan said they come from a lower-caste background in Tamil Nadu and drew parallels between the "strong resistance tones" of Tamil Nadu and Scotland. They joined the Greens due to the party's support for Palestine. According to the Daily Telegraph, they unfollowed Auschwitz on social media and defended the defacement of posters of Israeli hostages.
Legal Changes and Education
Last year, the SNP government introduced legislation allowing non-UK citizens to stand for Parliament if they had any form of leave, including a short-term study visa. Previously, indefinite leave to remain was required. Manivannan studied liberal arts and humanities at OP Jindal Global University in Delhi before moving to Scotland in September 2021 to study at the University of St Andrews. A Scottish Greens spokesman defended the election, stating: "Q is on a valid visa with the right to work and live in Scotland, and is a Commonwealth citizen."
