Dining Over the Gap: A Meeting Among Opposing Perspectives

Introducing the Individuals

One Participant: P., 34, London

Occupation Former government employee, currently a student focusing on public health

Voting record Voted the Green Party last time (and a member of the political group); formerly Labour. Identifies as “progressive, and globalist rather than nationalist”

Amuse bouche A drawing of a tea cup Peter created as a child was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery

Other Participant: Akshat, 43, from Harrow

Occupation Risk analyst in the construction sector

Voting record Originally from India, Akshat has lived in the UK for half a decade, and voted Conservative. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre”

Amuse bouche He taught himself to read and write the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I was just fascinated”

For starters

Akshat Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the United States. The issues Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also global, because people's lives more or less follows the same curve wherever it is. I anticipated a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.

Peter We shared starters – seafood rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were excellent. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think he was too. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of London.

Key disagreements

The first participant I look at migration like sprinkling salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.

Peter Akshat used an analogy regarding salt. It would be odd to be if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the nation.

The first participant There are, unfortunately, people fleeing persecution, but many migrants arriving in the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily add significant value and can burden the welfare system. No one compels you to move to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.

Peter We became confused with some of the facts. I don’t think it’s like you arrive and work and then after five years you get indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, visa fees are really high, you pay an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anyone. And regarding the recent changes, under which family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I think we must maintain a degree of humanity.

Sharing plate

The first participant Peter questions unchecked capitalism. I am, too, but at the same time, wealth creation benefits society and should be encouraged.

The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that some parts of the community – politics, the media – benefit from creating conflict. We did find shared understanding in fundamentals and values.

Dessert and debate

The first participant Peter believes that since the UK benefitted from the colonial era, it should pay reparations to affected nations. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess history with present day morality; eras vary, current society were not responsible of events decades or a century ago. Let’s say the UK was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is Britain able to do that? Certainly not.

Peter Until recently, I don’t think there was much reckoning with the colonial past. For example, upon my arrival to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the part that imperial rule played in it. I hold that decolonisation isn’t just about issuing payments, it should be about examining what went wrong and our current responsibilities.

Final thoughts

Akshat It may not alter the my perspective, but I appreciate his worries. I talk to individuals every day with opinions are opposite to my own. The goal is bringing everyone to the common understanding, in order that everyone can work towards the betterment of the community.

The second participant We remained for 150 minutes. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we might become more open to engaging in dialogues with others in the coming times.