Q Manivannan

I am genuinely sorry to everyone who has been distressed, hurt or triggered by the clips, and by the discussion and coverage that has followed.

As a survivor of sexual violence, who has spoken openly about my recovery, I am clear that we need to focus on reducing the likelihood of perpetrators of rape reoffending.

A full viewing of the interview clarifies this.

Victims should be believed regardless of who the perpetrator was, and rapists should be punished in the strongest terms.

Any suggestion that my statements minimise or excuse rape or sexual assault are deeply false and misleading.

If we are to tackle rape and sexual violence we need to tackle wider issues in society, including the ways boys and men are socialised.

This clip has been clearly misrepresented and taken out of context from a much longer interview.

That's how it was received by the parliament, by pretty much every single other member of parliament who isn't in Reform, which is the one and extremely incredible thing that's happening in Holyrood right now," they said.

I feel like the more time we spend there and the more, the less time I spend making that the core element of my identity, the more they're warming up as well. Because the one thing they can't deny is whether or not I can do my job.

You're seeing cohesion with every other party, including with the Conservatives and Labour – simply because everyone understands that regardless of the disagreements and very strong disagreements they continue to have, basic human decency…

Enough of them have said problematic things about me, enough of them have supported people who say horrible things about me," Manivannan said.

I'm not going to name any names, but literally there has been at least a member from – usually multiple – coming in to say: We will have disagreements, but ignore this. This is not what you were here for. You were elected in by your…

We urge the Scottish Government to prioritise engaging with communities of colour, Muslim communities and migrant communities in Edinburgh to determine what additional support and protection measures need to be put in place.

The attacks in Edinburgh were horrific, and our thoughts are with those who have been injured and their loved ones.

Nobody should be attacked because of who they are, the colour of their skin, or the faith they follow.

Edinburgh is stronger than hate. We will stand together as a community, united against those who seek to spread fear and division.

In my speech after my election I said 'I am to some in this country, everything that the hateful despise' so I did expect some vitriol because it is not new to us, we are used to it but the level of attention - and it was international…

Those communities are ones that nobody can take away from me and they are my testament. To people who question my ability to serve in office, I would say I have enough of my constituents writing to me on a daily basis saying 'thank you so…

I didn't ask for security. I was allocated it by the parliament. Police complaints had to be made about threats I had received.

There are people who have lived here all their lives who wouldn't want to run for council, it's not what their line of work would be.

They have a glimpse of what it is like being a politician as you do face scrutiny in every one of your actions and you face that physical risk.

I really hope so. In some ways we are test case.

So in some ways I feel trans people are already ready for politics. We just need more of them in there.

I want to be able to support any one else who wants to come forward.