A Scottish Green Party member, identified as Viswanathan, claims she was pressured to withdraw her candidacy for a regional list seat due to her student visa status. This assertion comes despite another candidate, Q Manivannan, who also held a student visa, being permitted to run and subsequently being elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP).
The core of the dispute lies in the perceived differential treatment of two candidates holding similar visa statuses, raising questions about the party's internal selection processes and adherence to its own policies.
Viswanathan, currently the president of the National Union of Students (NUS) in Scotland and of Indian origin, was ranked third on the party's list for the North East of Scotland. She alleges that in July of last year, a party official contacted her via phone and requested her withdrawal, citing concerns over her visa and the ability to guarantee her presence throughout a potential MSP term.
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The Scottish Greens have publicly denied that any candidates were prevented from standing based on their visa situation. However, reports indicate that Q Manivannan, a self-described ‘queer Tamil immigrant’, also ran on a student visa. The Home Office had previously expressed doubts regarding Mannivannan's eligibility to serve a full five-year term as an MSP due to their visa status. The party has stated that MSPs are not eligible for a fast-track visa route based solely on their political work.
The Scottish Greens have pledged support for the newly elected Manivannan as they seek a graduate visa to remain in Scotland. This situation has drawn criticism, with some, like Scottish Tory Stephen Kerr, demanding transparency from the Greens, labeling the affair a "shambles." The controversy further intensifies existing discussions surrounding the eligibility and tenure of MSPs with precarious immigration status.
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