Manivannan, who represents the Scottish Green Party, won a seat from the Edinburgh and Lothian East regional list at the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, becoming one of the first openly transgender people to be elected as a Holyrood MP.
Tamil Nadu-born academic moves to Scotland in 2021
Originally from tamil naduManivannan studied Arts and Humanities at O.P. Jindal Global University in Delhi and then pursued an MA in International Peace Studies at Trinity College, Dublin.In 2021 they moved to Scotland to study for an ESRC-funded PhD in International Relations at the University of St Andrews.Manivannan describes himself as a “queer Tamil immigrant” and uses “they/them” pronouns to identify as non-binary. In addition to politics, they were also known as anthropologists and poets.
‘I am a transgender Tamil immigrant’: Victory speech draws attention
After the election results came in, Manivannan told supporters: “My name is Dr. Q Manivanan, I am a transgender Tamil immigrant… To some people in this country, I am everything hateful people despise, and I stand here carefully as your MP.”They add, “A politics of care expands the possibilities for everyone who is left behind, excluded, or never invited in.”
do not hold British citizenship or permanent residence
One of the biggest talking points around Manivannan’s election was that they did not have British citizenship and the right to remain in the UK indefinitely.Manivannan is reportedly eligible to compete as they are Commonwealth citizens with valid visas. The SNP government changed these rules in 2025 to allow individuals with any form of legal immigration status to stand in the election.Previously, candidates were required to have indefinite leave to remain or permanent residence status.The report also stated that Manivannan had previously sought financial assistance of approximately £2,089 for graduate visa applications so that they could continue to live and work in the UK for a limited period of time.A spokesman for the Scottish Green Party defended Manivannan, saying they “hold a valid visa and have the right to work and live in Scotland”, while criticizing the UK immigration system as “hostile and unnecessarily expensive”.
Social media backlash and political criticism
Manivannan’s election sparked a backlash online, with critics questioning whether foreigners without permanent residency should be allowed to stand in British elections.Rupert Lowe was one of those who criticized this development, arguing that only British citizens should be allowed to run for office.“Foreigners should not be allowed to participate in elections,” Lowe said in a social media post, adding: “British elections belong to the British people.”The Telegraph also reported that some of Manivannan’s past social media posts related to international political issues had come under scrutiny.The Scottish Green Party responded that these remarks were taken out of context and reiterated that the party opposed violence and supported peace.
Scottish Green Party performs strongly
The Scottish Greens won a record number of seats in the election, with several candidates from a variety of ethnic and social backgrounds.Manivannan’s victory is seen as a landmark moment in Scottish politics, marking one of the rare instances of a non-permanent resident being elected to British office.