Representing the Scottish Greens, Manivannan won a seat from the regional Edinburgh and East Lothians list at the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, becoming one of the first trans people to be elected to Holyrood.
The Tamil Nadu-born researcher moved to Scotland in 2021
Originally from Tamil Nadu, Manivannan studied Liberal Arts and Humanities at OP Jindal Global University in Delhi before completing a Masters in International Peace Studies at Trinity College Dublin.In 2021, they moved to Scotland to pursue an ESRC-funded PhD in International Relations at the University of St Andrews.Manivannan describes themselves as “queer Tamil immigrants” and identifies as non-binary, using they/them pronouns. Apart from politics, they are also known as an anthropologist and poet.
‘I am a transgender Tamil immigrant’: Victory speech draws attention
Speaking after the election result, Manivannan told his supporters: “My name is Dr Q Manivannan, I am a transgender Tamil immigrant… I am to some in this country everything that hateful people despise, and I stand here as a representative of the peace community now with care.”
“The politics of care expands what is possible for each person left behind, thrown out or never invited,” they added.
He does not hold British citizenship or permanent residency
One of the biggest talking points about Manivannan’s election is that they do not have British citizenship or indefinite leave to remain in the UK.According to reports, Manivannan was eligible to compete because they are citizens of the Commonwealth and have a valid visa. The rules were changed by the Scottish National Party government in 2025, allowing individuals with any form of legal immigration status to stand at election.Earlier, candidates had to take indefinite leave to remain or permanent residency.Reports also said that Manivannan had previously requested financial assistance amounting to around £2,089 to apply for a postgraduate visa which would allow them to continue living and working in Britain for a limited period.A Scottish Green Party spokesman defended Manivannan, saying they “hold a valid visa and have the right to work and live in Scotland”, while criticizing the UK’s immigration system as “adversarial and unnecessarily expensive”.
Violent reactions on social media and political criticism
Manivannan’s election sparked online backlash, with critics questioning whether foreign nationals without permanent residency should be allowed to compete in the British election.Among those who criticized this development was Robert Lowe, who said that only British citizens should be allowed to run for office.“Foreign nationals should not be allowed to stand in elections,” Lowe said in a social media post, adding: “British elections are for the British people.”
The Telegraph also reported that it had come under scrutiny for some of Manivannan’s past social media posts related to international political issues.The Scottish Greens responded by saying the comments were taken out of context and reiterated the party’s opposition to violence and support for peace.
The Scottish Greens are posting a strong performance
The Scottish Greens won a record number of seats in the election, with many candidates coming from diverse ethnic and social backgrounds.Manivannan’s victory is seen as a landmark moment in Scottish politics, and represents one of the rare instances of a non-permanent UK resident being elected to public office in Britain.
