John Cleese urges students to reject Green MSP for St Andrews rector

At the height of his fame, John Cleese was paraded down South Street in St Andrews as the town’s officially elected student representative. In the middle of his traditional “rectorial drag”, a tour of student haunts undertaken by the university rector, the comedian was handed an eight-week-old piglet by two members of the university’s Porker Club. Most commented 1 Selma Blair charged with assault after ‘biting flight attendant’ US news 241 comments In dark flowing academic robes, the Monty Python star posed for pictures, trying to keep a studious and straight face as the little animal squealed. Top stories 1 Starbucks ‘explores takeover’ of Chipotle Mexican Grill US business Student politics at St Andrews has occasionally veered into the absurd. It can also be very serious. John Cleese during his “rectorial drag” in 1971 Daily Record/Mirrorpix Daily Record/Mirrorpix Cleese, 86, who served as rector from 1970 to 1973, has waded into the latest contest for the post, more than half a century after his term ended. Advertisement He has called for students to reject one of the favourites for the job, Q Manivannan. Top stories 1 Rental tracker: have rents gone up or down in your area? Property & Home The Green MSP — an Indian national who identifies as non-binary — was at the centre of an online furore this year after saying that rape existed on a “spectrum” . That, said Cleese, should disqualify Manivannan from being rector. The comedian, writing on X, said: “As a former rector of St Andrews University I respectfully urge its students not to support someone who tries to understate the appalling psychological effects of rape.” Manivannan, whose visa was recently extended , had said the idea of a rapist being a “big, big, burly man” was “not necessarily unfounded” but said it was “misconstrued” because “any individual is capable” of rape. Q Manivannan Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Addressing the controversy, the MSP later said: “I am horrified that my comments were selectively edited in order to mislead people and misrepresent me, but I also accept that my language was abstract in the first place and for that I take full responsibility and am sorry. Advertisement “During the interview, I categorically stated that rape in every context is equally serious and harmful.” The Green this week announced a platform for the election that included local student concerns. Writing on Instagram, Manivannan said: “For our wee bubble, I’m running to be the University of St Andrews’ new rector. Green MSP apologises for claim that rape is ‘on a spectrum’ “Alongside the space I occupy as an MSP, I will bring a chance for our wee town to grow and thrive while rectifying the many injustices being permitted in our name (including to our current rector Stella Maris).” Advertisement Maris, who is not running, has been in dispute with St Andrews after she was removed from the university court over comments she made on the Israel-Gaza war, although she won an appeal nine months later . Manivannan has pledged to prioritise better buses for students in Glasgow and Edinburgh, more student activities and affordable homes, ending “insecure staff contracts” and supporting Scottish students “alongside queer and racially minoritised students”. Scotland newsletter Your weekend briefing from the Scotland edition of The Times and The Sunday Times. Sign up with one click You’ve successfully signed up to the Scotland newsletter Explore our newsletters An error occurred. Please use the link below. Scotland newsletter Explore our newsletters Manivannan, who graduated with a PhD from St Andrews this year, faces a challenge from the American actor Brian Baumgartner , best known for playing Kevin Malone in the US version of The Office . There are six candidates trying to win the student vote, which takes place this week. A fifth of students at St Andrews are American, a higher proportion than at any other major British higher education institution. Cleese, despite posing with the piglet for the press, was said to have taken his duties as rector seriously. The rector is supposed to represent the interests of students at the university’s court.