Dining Over the Gap: A Meeting Between Different Viewpoints
Introducing the Participants
One Diner: Peter, 34, London
Occupation Former civil servant, currently a learner studying public health
Voting record Voted Green recently (and a affiliate of the political group); formerly Labour Party. Describes himself as “left, and internationalist rather than nationalist”
Interesting fact A drawing of a teacup he did as a kid was once hung in the Irish National Gallery
Second Diner: Akshat, 43, from Harrow
Occupation Risk manager in the construction sector
Voting record Hailing from India, he has lived in the UK for half a decade, and supported the Conservative Party. Identifies as “somewhat right of centre”
Interesting fact Akshat self-learned to read and write Urdu. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”
Initial impressions
Akshat Over the last two decades, I’ve lived and worked in the Middle East, South Korea, the United States. The topics we talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives largely follows the same curve wherever it is. I was expecting someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we engaged in a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, he opted for mojitos.
The second participant We split starters – seafood rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack 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.
The big beef
The first participant I look at 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 Akshat used an analogy about seasoning. It would be a funny place to exist if the government was choosing some ideal ethnic makeup of the nation.
Akshat There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but many people coming to the UK are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily add significant value and can burden the benefit system. Nobody forces you to go to a different nation for prospects, so you should only go if you are able to support yourself and your relatives.
Peter We got lost with some of the facts. I don’t think it’s like you arrive and are employed and then following a half-decade you get indefinite leave to remain. No process is guaranteed. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anyone. And regarding the new policies, whereby 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 must maintain a degree of humanity.
Sharing plate
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. I am, too, but at the same time, economic growth helps communities and should be encouraged.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we agreed that certain elements of society – government, the press – benefit from stoking division. We discovered common ground in basic principles and values.
Dessert and debate
The first participant Peter believes that since the UK benefitted from the colonial era, it should pay compensation to affected nations. I simply think: you cannot judge the past with present day morality; times are different, current society were not responsible of events decades or a century ago. Suppose the Britain was obliged to repay the Indian nation, it would be a huge amount of money. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.
Peter Until recently, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. For example, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, people weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the part that colonialism played in it. My view is decolonisation isn’t just about signing a cheque, it should be about looking at past errors and where we should be now.
Final thoughts
Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I talk to individuals regularly whose views are opposite to my own. The goal is bringing everyone to the common understanding, in order that all of us can strive for the betterment of society.
Peter We were there for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we each liked the meal, so we could hopefully be more receptive to having conversations with other people in future.
