Indo-Scottish Greens MP Q Manivannan, who was elected to the Scottish Parliament last week, drew criticism after backing calls for reparations to be paid to the Palestinians, funded by Scottish taxpayers.Manivannan, who represents Edinburgh and the East Lothians list, has backed the manifesto issued by Palestinian Arts Workers Scotland ahead of the Holyrood election.The document urges a future Scottish government to introduce a so-called “restorative justice plan” for Palestinians and review Scotland’s historical links to “the colonization and occupation of Palestine”.Manivannan, who describes himself as a “queer Tamil immigrant”, was elected as a member of the pro-independence Scottish Green Party.Reports that Manivannan is in the UK on a student visa have raised questions about whether their immigration status covers the entire parliamentary term, with the parliamentary election already sparking political debate.Under current UK immigration rules, elected positions in devolved legislative bodies such as Holyrood are not considered standard employment, allowing student visa holders to work as MSPs.However, Manivannan may need to obtain a graduate or global talent visa to remain eligible throughout the five-year term.Rachel Hamilton, deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives, told The Telegraph: “Ordinary Scots will be shocked that these Green MPs are not only allying themselves with groups that promote antisemitism, but are advocating that taxpayers pay for misleading virtue signaling stunts.”“It appears the new Green MPs are even more extreme than those who came before them. The idea of John Swinney striking a deal with these lunatics is truly terrifying,” Hamilton added.The support also sparked criticism on social media, with some users questioning why Scottish taxpayers should fund reparations related to Palestine.“What’s wrong with these people? Why should British taxpayers provide reparations for Palestine,” one user wrote on X.Another user commented: “Welcome to Scotland 2026, where identity politics trumps local needs and taxpayers are just an ATM machine for global discontent.”A third user criticized the Scottish Parliament’s political priorities, writing: “His priority is not the people of Scotland.”The Scottish Green Party’s official election manifesto supports a wider international discussion around reparations related to colonialism, although it does not specifically commit to reparations to the Palestinians.The row has also sparked political debate in Scotland over immigration rules and whether temporary visa holders should be allowed to run for office.Malcolm Offord, of Reform UK, previously told The Telegraph he would support blocking foreign students from serving as MPs after rules were changed to allow temporary visa holders to stand in elections.
