Why is there a row about an MSP's immigration status?

Why is there a row about an MSP's immigration status?3 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleAngus CochraneSenior political journalist, BBC ScotlandPA MediaQ Manivannan was elected on the Edinburgh and Lothians East list Who should be allowed to stand for election to the Scottish Parliament?That is the question at the centre of a debate sparked by the ballot box success of a Green candidate.Q Manivannan, originally from India, is on a student visa which is due to expire at the end of the year. That did not prevent the political novice from being elected on the Edinburgh and Lothians East regional list.Opponents believe Manivannan should not have been selected in the first place - while the Greens have accused critics of "disgusting" attacks on their new parliamentarian. Who is Q Manivannan? Manivannan moved to Scotland in 2021 to study for a PhD in international relations at the University of St Andrews.The politician uses they/them pronouns and along with Glasgow's Iris Duane will be Holyrood's first trans parliamentarians. Manivannan, who also identifies as non-binary, has worked as a community organiser, adviser and teacher with the United Nations, trade unions and human rights groups. The Green is currently on a student visa but they have applied for graduate visa, which would allow them to stay in the UK for up to three years.Scottish Greens confident that MSP will be able to renew visaGreens say fringe party cost them Holyrood seat by 'confusing' votersManivannan has also applied for a global talent visa, which would allow them to stay in the UK for up to five years - covering the duration of the new Scottish Parliament term. Rachel Turner, an immigration case worker in Aberdeen, told BBC Scotland News it was "fairly common" for students to progress to a graduate visa once they had completed their course. She said it usually took about eight weeks to get a response from the Home Office once an application had...