Dining Over the Gap: An Meeting Between Different Perspectives

Meeting the Participants

First Participant: Peter, 34, from London

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

Voting record Voted the Green Party recently (also a member of the party); previously Labour. Identifies as “progressive, and internationalist instead of nationalist”

Amuse bouche A sketch of a tea cup he created as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland

Other Participant: Akshat, 43, Harrow

Profession Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry

Voting record Originally from the Indian subcontinent, he has lived in the United Kingdom for five years, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “slightly moderate right”

Interesting fact He self-learned to understand the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”

Initial impressions

Akshat Over the last two decades, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, South Korea, the US. The topics we talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives more or less follows the same curve wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.

The second participant We shared starters – fishy spring rolls, steamed buns, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I believe he was too. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our love of the capital.

The big beef

The first participant I look at migration similar to adding salt to a dish. With a small amount, the dish is delicious. Add too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.

The second participant Akshat had a metaphor about seasoning. It would be a funny place to exist if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.

Akshat There are, unfortunately, people fleeing persecution, but many people coming to the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily contribute much and can burden the welfare system. No one compels you to move to a different nation for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.

The second participant We got lost with certain details. In my view it’s like you arrive and work and then following a half-decade you get indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming since Theresa May, visa fees are quite expensive, you pay an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is restricted. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anyone. And regarding the new policies, under which you can’t bring your family over, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I believe we have to have a certain level of compassion.

Sharing plate

Akshat Peter questions unregulated markets. So am I, but at the same time, wealth creation benefits society and should be encouraged.

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

For afters

The first participant Peter believes that since the United Kingdom profited from the colonial era, it ought to provide reparations to those countries. I simply think: it is unfair to assess history with contemporary ethics; eras vary, current society had no control of events 50 or 100 years ago. Let’s say the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is Britain able to do that? Certainly not.

Peter In the past, I don’t think there was much reckoning with colonial history. As an instance, when I first moved to the UK, people had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the part that colonialism played in it. I hold that decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it ought to involve examining past errors and our current responsibilities.

Final thoughts

Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I understand his worries. I talk to people regularly whose views are opposite to mine. The goal is bringing everyone to the common understanding, so that all of us can strive for the improvement of society.

Peter We remained for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we could hopefully be more open to having conversations with other people in the coming times.