Q Manivannan, a Scottish Green MSP, faces significant hurdles in completing a full term at Holyrood due to an expiring student visa that could jeopardize permanent residency plans.
Current Visa Status and Transition Plans
Manivannan currently holds a student visa permitting work as an MSP, set to expire later this year. The MSP plans to switch to a graduate visa for an additional three years while pursuing a global talent visa for indefinite stay in the UK.
Challenges with Global Talent Visa
Home Office guidance specifies that MSP roles do not qualify for the Global Talent visa, which targets leaders in science, digital technology, arts, or culture. Applicants must demonstrate relevant professional experience beforehand.
The guidance emphasizes: “Most Global Talent decisions require a full assessment of an applicant’s skills and experience, rather than relying on binary criteria, and it is impossible to indicate whether an individual may qualify for the visa before an application has been submitted.”
Student visas typically limit work to 20 hours weekly during term time and bar permanent roles, though elected positions in devolved government are exempt from these restrictions.
Party Policy Stance on Second Jobs
Manivannan, a transgender MSP from a Tamil background using they/them pronouns and a former PhD student, cannot pursue qualifying work elsewhere. The Scottish Greens oppose MSPs holding second jobs, with a party spokesperson stating: “Being an MSP is a full-time job.”
The MSP asserts the ability to work full-time post-PhD and is applying for the global talent visa to remain through the parliamentary term and beyond. Manivannan declined to respond to questions on the immigration concerns following a recent party photocall.
Calls for Home Office Investigation
Scottish Tory figures have raised alarms. Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie, a Tory MP, commented: “Q Manivannan and I will, I’m sure, disagree on many things but this is not about politics. Regardless of party, it should surely be a pre-requisite that to legislate and vote on the laws of a country you should be a permanent resident of that country.”
Tory MSP Stephen Kerr urged a Home Office review, stating: “I’m calling on the Home Office to look into this case, because I can’t see how Q Manivannan can fulfil the duties of an MSP without breaching the strict terms under which a student visa is issued. This is a shambles entirely of the Scottish Greens’ making – and they owe an explanation to voters in Edinburgh. If they had done any due diligence or candidate vetting, they would have realised the pitfalls of this candidate standing.”
