Conversing Across the Gap: A Meeting Among Opposing Viewpoints

Meeting the Participants

One Participant: P., 34, London

Occupation Former government employee, now a student focusing on public health

Political history Supported Green last time (and a member of the party); previously Labour. Describes himself as “left, and globalist instead of nationalist”

Amuse bouche A sketch of a tea cup he created as a kid was once hung in the National Gallery of Ireland

Other Participant: A., 43, from Harrow

Profession Risk analyst in the construction sector

Political history Originally from the Indian subcontinent, he has lived in the UK for half a decade, and supported Conservative. Identifies as “somewhat moderate right”

Amuse bouche He taught himself to understand the Urdu language. “It has no practical use for me, I simply found it intriguing”

For starters

The first participant During the past 20 years, I have resided and been employed in the Middle East, South Korea, the United States. The issues we talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because people's lives largely evolve similarly wherever it is. I anticipated someone very liberal, but Peter wasn’t all gung ho – we had a productive, logical conversation. I drank beer, Peter had mojitos.

The second participant We shared appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think he was too. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I have resided in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of London.

The big beef

The first participant I view immigration like sprinkling salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food tastes wonderful. Use too little or too much and the meal is insipid or overly seasoned.

The second participant He had a metaphor about seasoning. It would be odd to be if the government was selecting some preferred demographic of the country.

The first participant There are, sadly, people escaping oppression, but many migrants coming to the UK are those seeking better finances who do not necessarily add significant value and can weigh on 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 yourself and your relatives.

The second participant We became confused with some of the facts. In my view it’s like you come over and are employed and then following a half-decade you obtain indefinite leave to remain. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, application costs are quite expensive, there is an healthcare levy, access to benefits is restricted. There is no special treatment for anyone. And regarding the recent changes, under which family reunification is restricted, it is astonishing to state: we desire your labor, but we reject you as a person. I think we have to have a certain level of compassion.

Common ground

Akshat Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. I am, too, but simultaneously, economic growth benefits society and ought to be promoted.

The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that some parts of the community – politics, the press – benefit from creating conflict. We did find shared understanding in fundamentals and values.

Dessert and debate

Akshat Peter believes that since the UK benefitted from the colonial era, it should pay reparations to affected nations. I simply think: it is unfair to assess the past with present day morality; times are different, current society had no control of events decades or a century ago. Let’s say the UK had to compensate India, it would be a huge amount of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? No.

The second participant In the past, I believe adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. For example, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, people had little knowledge of the Great Famine and the part that colonialism played in it. I hold that decolonisation is not merely about signing a cheque, it should be about examining what went wrong and our current responsibilities.

Final thoughts

Akshat It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate his worries. I converse with individuals every day whose views are contrary to my own. The goal is uniting people to the common understanding, in order that all of us can work towards the improvement of society.

The second participant We were there for two and a half hours. He enjoyed a sweet treat and I had some sweet Japanese wine. I did not convince him of any point, but we each liked the meal, so we could hopefully be more receptive to having conversations with others in the coming times.