John Cleese Backs Campaign Against Green MSP Becoming St Andrews Rector

Monty Python legend John Cleese has thrown himself into the race for rector at the University of St Andrews, urging students to vote against Scottish Green MSP Q Manivannan taking on the prestigious role.

Cleese, never one to stay quiet on a controversy, waded into the debate after past comments made by Manivannan surfaced during the campaign. The comedian and actor made clear he wants students to think carefully before backing the Green politician for one of Scotland’s most historic university positions.

The rector of St Andrews is elected by the student body and acts as a representative for students on the university court. It is one of the oldest such positions in Scottish higher education, and the race regularly attracts high-profile names. This year’s contest has now taken on a very different flavour thanks to Cleese’s intervention.

Manivannan, who represents the Scottish Greens in the Scottish Parliament, had been seen as a strong candidate given their profile and political background. But the campaign has become significantly more turbulent following scrutiny of previous statements they made, which Cleese and others have pointed to as cause for concern.

Cleese has a history of speaking bluntly on culture war issues and has not shied away from controversy in recent years. His decision to get involved in a Scottish student election is unusual but not entirely surprising given his track record of wading into debates others might avoid.

For St Andrews students, the choice of rector carries real weight. The role is not just ceremonial. The rector chairs the university court and can genuinely influence decisions that affect student life. That means the debate around who fills the position matters beyond the politics of the moment.

The intervention from such a well-known public figure is likely to generate significant attention around the vote, potentially drawing in students who might otherwise have paid little attention to the rector election. Whether Cleese’s backing helps or hinders the campaign against Manivannan remains to be seen, given that student electorates do not always respond warmly to outside voices telling them how to vote.

The Scottish Greens have had a turbulent period recently following the collapse of their power-sharing agreement with the SNP at Holyrood. Manivannan has remained an active voice within the party during that time, and a successful rector bid could have provided a boost at a difficult moment for the Greens.

St Andrews itself is one of Scotland’s most prestigious universities and regularly finds itself at the centre of national conversations. Its student population is notably international, which adds another layer of complexity to how campaigns like this play out.

With Cleese now publicly involved, the rector race has gone from a relatively low-key campus contest to something with a much wider audience. Students will cast their votes in the coming days, and the result will be watched closely both inside and outside the university.