Occupation Ex- civil servant, currently a student studying public health
Voting record Voted the Green Party last time (also a member of the party); previously Labour. Identifies as “progressive, and globalist instead of patriotic”
Interesting fact A sketch of a tea cup he did as a kid was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Occupation Risk analyst in the infrastructure industry
Political history Hailing from the Indian subcontinent, Akshat has resided in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “slightly moderate right”
Interesting fact Akshat taught himself to read and write Urdu. “I have no use for it, I was just fascinated”
The first participant Over the last 20 years, I’ve lived and worked in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The issues we talked about are UK-centric, but they are also universal, because human life 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 had a couple of beers, he opted for mojitos.
Peter We shared starters – seafood rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I believe he was too. Was he going to attack me for being a snowflake? We each have immigrant backgrounds. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the US and the Iberian Peninsula. We bonded over our love of the capital.
The first participant I look at migration like sprinkling salt to a meal. When you add a little bit, the food tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the dish is insipid or overly seasoned.
Peter Akshat had a metaphor regarding salt. It would be a funny place to be if the state was selecting some preferred demographic of the nation.
Akshat There are, sadly, individuals fleeing persecution, but a lot of people arriving in the United Kingdom are those seeking better finances who may not add significant value and can weigh on the welfare system. No one compels you to move 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 some of the facts. In my view it’s like you arrive and work and then following a half-decade you get permanent citizenship. No process is guaranteed. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, visa fees are quite expensive, there is an healthcare levy, eligibility for support is restricted. There is no special treatment for anybody. And concerning the new policies, whereby 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.
The first participant Peter’s sceptical of unregulated markets. I am, too, but at the same time, wealth creation benefits society and ought to be promoted.
Peter We each have global outlooks. And we concurred that some parts of society – government, the media – thrive off creating conflict. We did find common ground in basic principles and ethics.
The first participant Peter is of the opinion that because the UK profited from colonial times, it should pay reparations to affected nations. My view is simply: you cannot judge history with contemporary ethics; times are different, current society had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years 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? Certainly not.
Peter Until recently, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. For example, upon my arrival to the United Kingdom, people weren’t aware of the Irish famine and the part that colonialism played in it. My view is decolonization isn’t just about issuing payments, it should be about looking at past errors and our current responsibilities.
The first participant It won’t change the my perspective, but I appreciate his worries. I talk to individuals every day with opinions are opposite to my own. The goal is bringing everyone to the same page, in order that everyone can work towards the improvement of society.
Peter We were there for 150 minutes. Akshat had dessert and I drank some sweet Japanese wine. I didn’t persuade him of any point, but we each liked dinner, so we could hopefully be more receptive to having conversations with other people in the coming times.
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