Dining Across the Gap: A Encounter Among Different Viewpoints
Introducing the Participants
One Participant: Peter, 34, from London
Occupation Former civil servant, now a student studying community health
Political history Voted the Green Party last time (and a member of the party); formerly Labour. Identifies as “progressive, and globalist instead of nationalist”
Interesting fact A sketch of a teacup he created as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Second Diner: Akshat, 43, Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Originally from the Indian subcontinent, he has resided in the UK for five years, and supported Conservative. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre”
Amuse bouche Akshat taught himself to understand Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
The first participant Over the last two decades, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The topics Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also global, because people's lives largely follows the same curve wherever it is. I was expecting a staunch liberal, but he was quite measured – we engaged in a good, rational discussion. I had a couple of beers, Peter had mojitos.
Peter We split starters – seafood rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think he was too. Would he criticize me for my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I have resided in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of London.
Key disagreements
Akshat I look at migration like adding salt to a dish. When you add a little bit, the food is delicious. Use too little or too much and the dish is either too bland or too salty.
Peter Akshat used an analogy about salt. It would be a funny place to be if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the nation.
The first participant There are, unfortunately, individuals fleeing persecution, but a lot of people coming to the UK are those seeking better finances who may not add significant value and can weigh on the benefit system. No one compels you to go to a new country for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of your own needs and your family.
Peter We got lost with certain details. In my view it is the case that you arrive and work and then after five years you get indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, application costs are really high, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anyone. And regarding the new policies, whereby family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I believe we must maintain a certain level of humanity.
Sharing plate
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, wealth creation benefits society and ought to be promoted.
Peter We’re both internationalist. And we concurred that some parts of the community – politics, the press – benefit from creating conflict. We discovered shared understanding in fundamentals and ethics.
Dessert and debate
Akshat Peter is of the opinion that because the UK profited from the colonial era, it should pay reparations to affected nations. My view is simply: it is unfair to assess the past with contemporary ethics; times are different, modern people were not responsible of what happened decades or a century ago. Let’s say the UK had to compensate India, it would be a huge amount of money. Is Britain able to manage that? No.
Peter Until recently, I believe there was much reckoning with colonial history. As an instance, upon my arrival to the UK, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the part that imperial rule contributed to it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it should be about looking at what went wrong and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I converse with people every day with opinions are opposite to mine. The goal is uniting people to the common understanding, so that all of us can work towards the betterment of society.
Peter We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we could hopefully be more open to having conversations with others in future.
