‘Queer Tamil immigrant’ elected as Scottish Green MSP to pocket £77k a year despite not having right to work

A self-described "queer Tamil immigrant", who has been elected as a Scottish Green MSP, will earn £77,711 a year despite not having the right to work in the UK.

Non-binary PhD student Q Mannivannan was allowed to stand after the Scottish Government relaxed legislation to allow non-UK citizens to represent Britons.

The candidate won the Edinburgh & Lothians East Holyrood seat on Friday, along with fellow Scottish Greens candidate Iris Duane in Glasgow.

Addressing supporters after winning the seat, the student said: “My name is Dr Q Manivannan, I am a transgender Tamil immigrant, my pronouns are they/them.

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"I am to some in this country everything that the hateful despise and I am standing here as your MSP now with care.

"They say politics is the art of the possible, a politics of care I would say expands what is possible for everyone left behind, pushed out or never invited in."

The Scottish Greens candidate added: "Every barrier placed before me with the Greens was the reason also that we pushed further.

"This is what diversity looks like in power."

However, after standing on a student visa, the MSP has ramped up efforts to receive donations in a bid to raise £2,089 for a graduate visa.

The cash would grant the student three years to live and work in the UK before applying for another visa.

Sue Webber, Scottish Conservative candidate for the Lothians, said ahead of May 7: "Voters will be astonished that this candidate doesn't even know if they will be able to stay in the country going forward.

"Questions must be asked as to why they are standing for Holyrood with uncertainty hanging over them."

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The PhD student believes the extra time would allow for further leeway to save £5,047 to pay for a global talent visa.

The Edinburgh MSP arrived at St Andrew's University on a student visa in 2021, meaning they could only work up to 20 hours a week during term time.

There is an opportunity to work in a full-time role outside of the academic calendar.

However, working as an MSP requires significantly more than 20 hours per week.

The Scottish Greens made historic gains on Friday, winning constituency MSPs in a political first.

SNP bigwig Angus Robertson in Edinburgh Central was given the boot, while Nicola Sturgeon's old Glasgow seat was overturned by the Greens.

The Scottish Green Party also secured 13 regional seats, taking its total to 15.

GB News has approached the Scottish Greens for comment.

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