A New Member of the Scottish Parliament

May 10, 2026, 20:04
EuropePolitics

Introduction

Dr Q Manivannan is from India. They are now a member of the Scottish Parliament for the Scottish Green Party.

Main Body

A law from 2020 says people can run for election if they can live in the UK legally. Dr Manivannan came to the UK in 2021 as a student. They needed money for a special visa to stay and work. Some people are happy. The Green Party says the law is correct. Other people are angry. They think only British citizens should be in parliament. Dr Manivannan must get a new visa from the government soon. If they do not get the visa, they cannot finish their job in parliament.

Conclusion

Dr Manivannan has a seat in parliament now, but they still need a legal visa.

Learning

⚡ THE 'IF' RULE

When we talk about a condition (something that must happen first), we use If.

Look at the pattern: If + [Action] →\rightarrow [Result]

From the text:

  • If they do not get the visa →\rightarrow they cannot finish their job.

Try these simple swaps:

  • If I study →\rightarrow I learn.
  • If it rains →\rightarrow I stay home.
  • If you help →\rightarrow I am happy.

🌍 DESCRIBING ORIGINS

To say where someone comes from, we use from.

  • Dr Manivannan is from India.
  • I am from Spain.
  • You are from Japan.

Note: Use from for the country, not the city, when talking about your roots!

Vocabulary Learning

member (n.)
a person who belongs to a group or organization
Example:He is a member of the local soccer team.
parliament (n.)
a group of people who make laws for a country
Example:The parliament meets in the capital city.
law (n.)
a rule that people must follow
Example:It is a law to wear a seatbelt.
election (n.)
a process where people choose leaders
Example:The election will be held next month.
live (v.)
to stay in a place
Example:They live in a small town.
legally (adv.)
in a way that follows the law
Example:He entered the country legally.
student (n.)
a person who studies at a school or university
Example:She is a student at the university.
visa (n.)
a paper that lets a person stay in another country
Example:He applied for a visa to work in Canada.
stay (v.)
to remain in a place for a period of time
Example:They will stay at the hotel for three days.
work (v.)
to do a job or task
Example:She works as a teacher.
happy (adj.)
feeling or showing pleasure or contentment
Example:I am happy with my exam results.
angry (adj.)
feeling strong dislike or annoyance
Example:He was angry when he lost the game.
citizen (n.)
a person who belongs to a country and follows its laws
Example:Citizens have the right to vote.
government (n.)
the group that runs a country
Example:The government announced new policies.
finish (v.)
to complete something
Example:She will finish her homework by Friday.
job (n.)
a paid position of work
Example:He has a job as a chef.
seat (n.)
a place to sit
Example:Please take a seat in the front row.
still (adv.)
even now, or continuing without change
Example:The city is still busy after the holidays.
need (v.)
to require something to be done
Example:I need to buy a new phone.