Scottish Greens MSP Q Manivannan defends election amidst visa row

The new Scottish Greens MSP at the centre of UK visa questions has issued a statement.

Q Manivannan was amongst the new parliamentarians to attend Holyrood inductions today.

Elected on the Edinburgh and Lothians East, the Indian national came to Scotland on a student visa which is set to expire, and does not yet have the graduate visa which would grant permission for a further three-year legal residency.

Manivannan’s immigration status has been subject to debate, with Green co-leader Gillian Mackay telling the BBC that she was confident the new MSP would be able to secure the visa.

The party has suggested that the MSP salary, which comes to around £80,000, will make success more likely.

Now Manivannan has issued a lengthy statement on the matter, saying: “Every MSP from every party represented in the Scottish Parliament unanimously voted to allow everyone with the right to live here to stand in elections, including new Scots on visas like me.

“I am a Commonwealth citizen and am currently on a student visa which will expire later this year. Having passed my grant-funded PhD and viva, I am able to work full time.

“I am in the process of transitioning to a graduate visa which will allow me to stay in the UK for a further three years.

“At the same time, I am also applying for a Global Talent Visa, recognising my contributions to the country, which will allow me to stay in the UK for the entire of my parliamentary term and beyond.”

Manivannan, who uses they/them pronouns, went on: “I am proud of my heritage and who I am. I am also proud to be a voice for all my constituents, including migrants and people on visas who are often shut out of our national debate. 

“I am also proud to have been awarded and recognised for my local work in arts and culture, academia, and human rights in Scotland – serving our people during my time here. Scotland is home, in every way.

“The Scottish Greens want to build a fair and humane system that treats people with dignity and respect rather than the current Home Office system that is costly, difficult, and often dehumanising. With my election, I seek to represent that goal.”

All UK visas carry strict rules about what the bearers can and cannot do, including setting limitations around work.

Those on student visas are restricted to 20 hours employment, while Global Talent Visas are for those deemed to be leaders or potential leaders in science, medicine, engineering, humanities, or social science.

A full Scottish Parliament term runs to five years, meaning Manivannan may not be able to serve the full term even on a graduate visa.

The Scottish Parliament said it has had several inquiries about Manivannan’s eligibility to be an MSP.

A parliament spokesperson said: “It is the responsibility of individual candidates and political parties to ensure that all relevant qualifications for standing for election are met.

“There is no role for the parliament in carrying out checks on candidates who are elected.”