Arthur Bernhoff elected St Andrews rector; Green MSP Q Manivannan finishes third
Arthur Bernhoff, a St Andrews graduate and Ministry of Defence analyst, won the University of St Andrews rectorial election. Green MSP Q Manivannan came third of six after a summer row over remarks about rape.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1Arthur Bernhoff, a St Andrews graduate who lives locally, received the most votes and was elected the new rector of the University of St Andrews. Evening StandardN “Arthur Bernhoff, a St Andrews graduate who lives locally, received the most votes and has been elected the new rector of the university.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Green MSP Q Manivannan, who uses they/them pronouns, came third out of six candidates, and actor Brian Baumgartner, known for playing Kevin Malone in the US version of The Office, came second. Evening StandardN “Manivannan, who uses they/them pronouns, came third out of six in the race to become St Andrews rector” Read at Evening Standard ↗ GB NewsR “Actor Brian Baumgartner, who is most known for his role as Kevin Malone in the US version of The Office, came second after receiving 1,553 votes.” Read at GB News ↗ Right · 1GB News gave the vote totals: Bernhoff 3,135, Baumgartner 1,553 and Manivannan 1,243. GB NewsR “came a distant third out of six candidates, receiving just 1,243 votes.”“was elected as the new rector of the Fife university after clinching 3,135 votes.” Read at GB News ↗
Mixed · 2The university said the election drew the "biggest response" to a rector's election in recent history, with turnout just under 45%, almost double that of the 2023 election. Evening StandardN “with turnout at just under 45% – almost double the turnout in the last St Andrews Rectorial election in 2023.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ GB NewsR “almost double the turnout in the last vote in 2023.” Read at GB News ↗ Right · 1Returning officer Mike Gettinby attributed the turnout to the "engaged and positive" campaigns, and Bernhoff said he was "honoured and humbled" and would be "accessible to all students". GB NewsR “Returning officer Mike Gettinby put the record-breaking turnout down to the “engaged and positive” campaigns by the candidates.”“vowed to be "accessible to all students of our vastly diverse student body".” Read at GB News ↗ Centre · 1Bernhoff has an analytical role at the Ministry of Defence and is a deployable civilian expert for the Foreign Office. Evening StandardN “Mr Bernhoff has an analytical role at the Ministry of Defence and is a deployable civilian expert for the Foreign Office.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1Manivannan's campaign was overshadowed by remarks from a podcast in which they spoke of the "demonisation of rape" and described rape as a "spectrum"; the Scottish Rape Crisis Alliance accused them of trying to "minimise" sexual violence, and former rector John Cleese urged students not to vote for them. Evening StandardN “Monty Python co-founder John Cleese, a former rector of the Scottish institution, urged students not to vote for Manivannan”“Their comments on rape were criticised by the Scottish Rape Crisis Alliance, which accused the MSP of trying to “minimise” sexual violence.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2Manivannan apologised for any hurt caused and accepted their language was abstract, but said the clip was edited and taken out of context, and that they had stated rape in every context is equally serious. Evening StandardN “I also accept that my language was abstract in the first place and for that I take full responsibility and am sorry.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ GB NewsR ““This clip has been clearly misrepresented and taken out of context from a much longer interview.” Read at GB News ↗ Mixed · 2GB News also cited Manivannan saying they are a survivor of sexual violence, and reported criticism of their student visa, a fundraiser for a graduate visa despite an MSP salary of £77,711, and a £250,000 home in India; the Evening Standard noted the graduate visa runs to 2029 and reports questioning how they portrayed their background. GB NewsR “was fundraising to pay for a graduate visa despite MSPs earning £77,711 a year.”“The elected representative also owns a £250,000 home in India.” Read at GB News ↗ Evening StandardN “The graduate visa will only last until 2029” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Centre · 1Manivannan, from India, completed a doctorate in international relations at St Andrews earlier this year, identifies as non-binary and is one of the first two openly trans MSPs at Holyrood, alongside Green Iris Duane. Evening StandardN “They completed their doctorate in international relations at the University of St Andrews earlier this year.”“is one of the first two openly trans MSPs at Holyrood, alongside fellow Green Iris Duane.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Reports the result as a defeat for Manivannan following the rape-remarks controversy, with context on the winner and the candidate's background.
- Emphasis
- The controversy, Cleese's intervention, Manivannan's apology and explanation, and the turnout.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give vote totals or Bernhoff's remarks on winning.
- For example
-
“has lost their bid to become the rector of the University of St Andrews following controversy over comments about rape.” — Evening Standard
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads on Manivannan's failure, using the "queer migrant" label in the headline and stressing their visa status, finances and the backlash.
- Emphasis
- Margin of defeat, visa and money, the £250,000 Indian property, and the rape-remarks backlash.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Cleese's call to vote against Manivannan or Manivannan's apology.
- Charged language
- “'Queer migrant'”“sparked fury”“furious backlash”“distant third”
What every side reports
- Arthur Bernhoff was elected rector of the University of St Andrews.
- Q Manivannan came third of six candidates and Brian Baumgartner second.
- Turnout was just under 45%, almost double 2023.
- Manivannan's remarks on rape drew criticism and they said the clip was taken out of context.
Where accounts differ
-
How Manivannan's remarks are characterised
- Centre
- Reports the remarks, Manivannan's apology and claim they were maliciously edited.
- Right
- Says the remarks sparked fury and that Manivannan claimed they were taken out of context; omits the apology.
Manivannan person
Apologised for any hurt but says the clip was edited and misrepresented, that they stand with survivors, and that the comments were meant to show rapists fit no stereotype.
“For that I apologise. I will always stand with, and for, victims and survivors.” — Evening Standard
“not all rapists fit a stereotype, and that all kinds of men can and do commit it.” — GB News
University of St Andrews organisation
Said the election saw the "biggest response" in recent history, with turnout just under 45%.
“St Andrews said this year's election saw the “biggest response” in recent history” — GB News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
-
Green MSP Q Manivannan loses bid to become St Andrews rector
Neutral Straight news report of the result with background on the rape-remarks row and Manivannan's apology.
Right1 article
-
GB NewsR ·
'Queer migrant' Green politician fails in bid to become rector of historic university
Critical Frames Manivannan's loss through their visa status, wealth and the backlash over their remarks.
- 17 Oct 09:53 First Evening StandardN Green MSP Q Manivannan loses bid to become St Andrews rector
- 17 Oct 22:28 +12h 35m GB NewsR 'Queer migrant' Green politician fails in bid to become rector of historic university
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…