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Introducing the Individuals

One Participant: Peter, 34, from London

Occupation Former civil servant, currently a student focusing on community health

Political history Voted the Green Party recently (also a member of the party); formerly Labour Party. Describes himself as “progressive, and globalist instead of nationalist”

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

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Other Participant: A., 43, Harrow

Occupation Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry

Voting record Hailing from India, Akshat has resided in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted Conservative. Describes himself as “slightly right of centre”

Amuse bouche He taught himself to understand the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”

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For starters

The first participant During the past two decades, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, South Korea, the US. The issues Peter and I discussed are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives largely follows the same curve wherever it is. I anticipated 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 split appetizers – seafood rolls, steamed buns, radish cakes with sprouts, which were excellent. I was a little nervous, as I think Akshat was. Would he criticize me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our affection for London.

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The big beef

Akshat I look at immigration similar to adding salt to a dish. With a small amount, the food tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.

Peter Akshat used an analogy regarding salt. It would be a funny place to exist if the state was choosing some preferred demographic of the nation.

Akshat There are, unfortunately, people fleeing persecution, but a lot of people arriving in the UK are economic migrants who may not contribute much and can burden the welfare system. Nobody forces you to go to a different nation for opportunity, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of yourself and your relatives.

Peter We became confused with certain details. I don’t think it is the case that you come over and work and then following a half-decade you obtain permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. It’s been a hostile environment since Theresa May, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And regarding the recent changes, under which family reunification is restricted, it’s incredible to say: we desire your labor, but we don’t want you. I think we must maintain a degree of compassion.

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Common ground

The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. I am, too, but at the same time, economic growth benefits society and ought to be promoted.

Peter We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that certain elements of society – politics, the media – benefit from stoking division. We discovered common ground in basic principles and values.

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Dessert and debate

Akshat Peter believes that since the United Kingdom benefitted from the colonial era, it ought to provide compensation to those countries. My view is simply: 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. Let’s say the Britain had to compensate India, it would be a huge amount of money. Is Britain able to manage that? No.

Peter Until recently, I believe adequate reflection occurred with the colonial past. For example, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, the public weren’t aware of the Great Famine and the role that colonialism contributed to it. My view is decolonization is not merely about signing a cheque, it ought to involve looking at what went wrong and our current responsibilities.

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Final thoughts

The first participant It won’t change the my perspective, but I understand Peter’s concerns. I converse with people regularly whose views are opposite to mine. It’s about uniting people to the common understanding, in order that all of us can work towards the improvement of society.

The second participant We remained for two and a half hours. Akshat had dessert and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of anything, but we each liked dinner, so we might become more receptive to engaging in dialogues with other people in the coming times.