Conversing Across the Gap: An Meeting Between Different Perspectives
Introducing the Individuals
One Participant: Peter, 34, London
Occupation Former government employee, now a student focusing on public health
Voting record Voted Green recently (also a affiliate of the party); previously Labour Party. Describes himself as “progressive, and internationalist instead of patriotic”
Interesting fact A drawing of a teacup he created as a child was once displayed in the National Gallery of Ireland
Other Diner: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Profession Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Political history Originally from India, Akshat has resided in the UK for five years, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre”
Amuse bouche Akshat 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’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the United States. The topics we discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because people's lives largely follows the same curve wherever it is. I was expecting someone very liberal, but he was quite measured – we had a good, rational discussion. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We split appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, daikon cakes with beansprouts, which were superb. I was a little nervous, as I believe Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We each have immigrant backgrounds. My childhood was in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our love of the capital.
Key disagreements
The first participant I view migration like adding salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter He had a metaphor about salt. It would be odd to be if the government was selecting some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
The first participant There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but a lot of people arriving in the UK are those seeking better finances who may not add significant value and can burden the benefit system. Nobody forces you to move to a new country for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of yourself and your relatives.
Peter We got lost with certain details. In my view it is the case that you come over and work and then after five years you obtain indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, visa fees are really high, you pay an NHS surcharge, eligibility for support is limited. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the new policies, under which you can’t bring your family over, it is astonishing to state: we want your work, but we reject you as a person. I think we have to have a certain level of compassion.
Sharing plate
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. So am I, but simultaneously, wealth creation helps communities and ought to be promoted.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that some parts of the community – politics, the media – benefit from stoking division. We did find shared understanding in fundamentals and values.
For afters
The first participant Peter is of the opinion that since the UK profited from colonial times, it should pay compensation to those countries. I simply think: it is unfair to assess the past with contemporary ethics; eras vary, modern people had no control of what happened decades or a century ago. Suppose the Britain had to compensate the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? Certainly not.
Peter In the past, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. For example, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, the public had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the part that imperial rule played in it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about issuing payments, it ought to involve looking at past errors and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
The first participant It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate his worries. I converse with people every day with opinions are contrary to mine. It’s about uniting people to the same page, so that all of us can work towards the improvement of society.
Peter We were there for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I drank a Japanese dessert wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we both enjoyed dinner, so we could hopefully be more open to engaging in dialogues with others in future.
