Trans immigrant MSP slammed as "racist" over "white people" Tweets
- Rory Cassidy
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Newly-elected transgender immigrant MSP Dr Q Manivannan has been slammed over "racist" tweets.
The self-described "transgender Tamil immigrant", who secured a spot as a list MSP for Edinburgh and Lothians East, posted a series of negative posts referencing "white people" and "white men".
The first, in February 2023, said: "Goddamn White people".
In April 2023, the Indian national, who is in Scotland on a student visa, wrote: "Next time I see a #anthropocene from a white man I will sob in hypocrisy".
And one from September 2023 said: "Ah white people at it again".
Today, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, Rachael Hamilton, Scottish Conservative Deputy Leader, hit out over the remarks, describing them as "racist".
She said: “These inflammatory comments are unacceptable, and the Greens should never have selected a candidate voicing what most people will see as blatantly racist views.”
Social media was awash with criticism of the comments, which came at a time when Dr Manivannan is understood to have been a PhD student in Scotland.
And the PhD graduate has come in for more criticism for purging their X account after making it private.
At the time of being elected on Friday, the politician had more than 2,000 followers on the site, formerly known as Twitter.
But all followers have now been removed from the account, and as it is private it means nobody can see the content of it.
One X user said: "Q Manivannan has now removed every follower from the account. We need to ask: what is being hidden?"
A post on the doctor's Instagram account yesterday/on Monday said there had been "invasive" attention in regards to my immigration status, including misinformation".
It added: "I am proud of my heritage and who I am. I am also proud to be a voice for all my constituents, including migrants and people on visas who are often shut out of our national debate.
"I have been awarded and recognised for my local work in arts and culture, academia, and human rights in Scotland - serving our people during my time here. Scotland is home, in every way.
"The Scottish Greens want to build a fair and humane system that treats people with dignity and respect rather than the current Home Office system that is costly, difficult, and often dehumanising.
"With my election, I seek to represent that goal in Holyrood.
"In the meantime, I hope poverty, housing, social care, and tax reform in Scotland can occupy as much attention as my gender and immigration status."
After being elected, Dr Manivannan took to Instagram to thank supporters amid what the politician described as "violent hate" and insisted - "I am so very happy".
Speaking after being elected, Dr Manivannan said: "My name is Dr Q Manivannan, I am a transgender Tamil immigrant, my pronouns are they/them."
Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay said Dr Manivannan would have to complete a new visa application process during the session of parliament and that the party would assist.
Sue Webber, Scottish Conservative candidate for the Lothians, said ahead of the election: "Voters will be astonished that this candidate doesn't even know if they will be able to stay in the country going forward.
"Questions must be asked as to why they are standing for Holyrood with uncertainty hanging over them."
The Scottish Greens did not respond to a request for comment on the Tweets and the X account being locked down and purged.
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