Green MSP Q Manivannan's Student Visa Triggers 5-Year Holyrood Eligibility Row

9 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 13

Q Manivannan was elected on the Edinburgh and Lothians East regional list despite holding a student visa that expires at the end of 2026, prompting opponents to question whether they can serve a full five-year term.
A 2024 Holyrood law change made non-UK citizens with limited leave to remain eligible to stand, and immigration advisers say Manivannan's pending graduate visa application fits a route with a success rate above 99%.
Critics including Ian Blackford, Reform UK Scotland and the Scottish Conservatives say the Greens should not have selected a candidate on temporary leave, with Tories also urging the Home Office to examine possible visa breaches.
The Greens and some SNP figures say Manivannan was lawfully elected under rules every MSP backed, calling the attacks personal and arguing any dispute should target the law rather than one newly elected member.
The row has revived warnings raised during debate on the December 2024 bill, when legal and academic critics said limited-leave MSPs could create uncertainty if they later lost the right to remain in the UK.

Why is an MSP's legal election on a temporary visa now a political crisis?

Does allowing temporary residents to govern redefine citizenship in Scotland?

Should electoral law prioritize inclusivity over guaranteeing a representative's full term?