SNP warned over espionage threat as Tories bid to change Holyrood election laws after migrant MSP row

Detailed summary

Foreign states could meddle in Scottish politics unless rules allowing foreign nationals without permanent residency rights to stand for election are reversed.

Published: 20:07 GMT, 12 November 2026 | Updated: 20:07 GMT, 12 November 2026

Foreign states could meddle in Scottish politics unless rules allowing foreign nationals without permanent residency rights to stand for election are reversed, John Swinney has been warned.

Concerns about the threat of ‘espionage’ were raised on Thursday as the First Minister defended the controversial rules which allow migrants with only temporary leave to remain to stand for election to the Scottish Parliament or local councils.

He dismissed the concerns of experts and even an SNP-led Holyrood committee and insisted that he was ‘perfectly satisfied’ with the current rules.

He is also opposed to launching a review but said parliament will decide whether to approve a Tory bill seeking to reverse the changes and ensure that only those with the permanent leave to remain in the UK can become an MSP or councillor.

Concerns were raised that failure to change the rules could lead to hostile foreign states seeking to place people in the Scottish Parliament.

It follows outrage after Scottish Greens candidate Q Manivannan was elected in May despite only having a temporary student visa at the time.

John Swinney defended the controversial rule allowing foreign nationals without permanent right to stay to run in elections

SNP MSP Jenni Minto, convener of the standards, procedures and public appointments committee, also reiterated her call for a review and urged colleagues to be prepared to show ‘humility’ and reflect on decisions which are wrong.

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