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Meeting the Individuals

First Participant: P., 34, from London

Occupation Ex- government employee, currently a student studying public health

Voting record Supported the Green Party last time (also a member of the party); previously Labour Party. Identifies as “left, and globalist rather than nationalist”

Amuse bouche A drawing of a teacup he did as a kid was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery

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Second Diner: A., 43, from Harrow

Occupation Risk manager in the construction sector

Voting record Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has resided in the UK for half a decade, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre”

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

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For starters

Akshat Over the last 20 years, I have resided and been employed in the Middle East, East Asia, the United States. The topics Peter and I talked about are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because people's lives more or less evolve similarly wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.

Peter We split appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think he was too. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the US and Spain. We connected through our love of London.

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The big beef

Akshat I view immigration like adding salt to a dish. When you add a little bit, the food tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.

The second participant He had a metaphor regarding salt. It would be a funny place to exist if the government was selecting some preferred demographic of the nation.

Akshat There are, sadly, people fleeing persecution, but many people arriving in the UK are economic migrants who do not necessarily add significant value and can burden the benefit system. No one compels you to go to a new country for prospects, so you should only go if you are able to support your own needs and your relatives.

The second participant We became confused with some of the facts. I don’t think it is the case that you arrive and are employed and then following a half-decade you get permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, visa fees are quite expensive, there is an NHS surcharge, eligibility for support is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And concerning the recent changes, whereby you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we don’t want you. I think we have to have a degree of compassion.

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Common ground

The first participant Peter questions unregulated markets. I am, too, but at the same time, economic growth benefits society and should be encouraged.

The second participant We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that certain elements of the community – politics, the media – benefit from stoking division. We did find shared understanding in basic principles and ethics.

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Dessert and debate

Akshat Peter is of the opinion that because the UK profited from the colonial era, it should pay compensation to affected nations. I simply think: it is unfair to assess history with contemporary ethics; times are different, modern people had no control of what happened decades or a century ago. Let’s say the Britain had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a significant sum of money. Is Britain able to manage that? No.

The second participant Until recently, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. As an instance, upon my arrival to the UK, people weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the part that imperial rule played in it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it should be about examining past errors and where we should be now.

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Takeaways

The first participant It won’t change the my perspective, but I appreciate his worries. I converse with people regularly whose views are opposite to mine. The goal is uniting people to the same page, in order that all of us can strive for the improvement of the community.

Peter We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we could hopefully be more receptive to having conversations with others in future.