Profession Ex- government employee, currently a student focusing on community health
Political history Supported Green recently (and a affiliate of the party); previously Labour. Describes himself as “left, and globalist rather than patriotic”
Interesting fact A drawing of a teacup Peter did as a kid was once displayed in the Irish National Gallery
Profession Risk manager in the infrastructure industry
Voting record Hailing from India, he has lived in the United Kingdom for half a decade, and voted the Conservative Party. Identifies as “slightly moderate right”
Amuse bouche Akshat taught himself to understand the Urdu language. “I have no use for it, I simply found it intriguing”
The first participant Over the last two decades, I have resided and been employed in Qatar, East Asia, the US. The topics Peter and I discussed are focused on Britain, but they are also global, because people's lives more or less evolve similarly 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.
Peter We shared appetizers – seafood rolls, dumplings, radish cakes with sprouts, which were superb. I felt somewhat anxious, as I think Akshat was. Was he going to attack me for my sensitivity? We’re both immigrants. I grew up in Dublin; I’ve lived in the United States and the Iberian Peninsula. We connected through our love of London.
The first participant I view immigration similar to adding salt to a dish. With a small amount, the food tastes wonderful. Add too little or too much and the meal is either too bland or too salty.
Peter He had a metaphor about seasoning. It would be a funny place to be if the state was choosing some preferred demographic of the nation.
The first participant There are, sadly, people fleeing persecution, but many people arriving in the UK are economic migrants who may not add significant value and can weigh on the benefit system. Nobody forces you to move to a different nation for prospects, so you ought to relocate if you can take care of your own needs and your relatives.
The second participant We got lost with some of the facts. I don’t think it’s like you come over and work and then after five years you get permanent citizenship. Nothing is automatic. The climate has been unwelcoming for some time, application costs are quite expensive, you pay an healthcare levy, access to benefits is limited. The red carpet isn’t rolled out for anyone. And regarding the new policies, under which 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 have to have a degree of humanity.
Akshat Peter’s sceptical of unchecked capitalism. So am I, but at the same time, wealth creation benefits society and ought to be promoted.
The second participant We’re both internationalist. And we agreed that some parts of society – politics, the press – benefit from creating conflict. We did find common ground in fundamentals and values.
Akshat Peter believes that since the UK profited from colonial times, it ought to provide reparations to those countries. My view is simply: you cannot judge the past with present day morality; eras vary, current society had no control of what happened 50 or 100 years ago. Suppose the Britain was obliged to repay India, it would be a significant sum of funds. Is the UK in a position to manage that? Certainly not.
The second participant In the past, I don’t think adequate reflection occurred with colonial history. As an instance, when I first moved to the United Kingdom, people had little knowledge of the Irish famine and the part that imperial rule contributed to it. My view is decolonisation is not merely about signing a cheque, it ought to involve looking at what went wrong and where we should be now.
The first participant It won’t change the way I think, but I appreciate Peter’s concerns. I talk to people regularly whose views are opposite to my own. The goal is bringing everyone to the common understanding, in order that everyone can strive for the improvement of the community.
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 the meal, so we could hopefully be more open to having conversations with others in the coming times.
Elara is a seasoned writer and digital storyteller with a passion for exploring diverse literary genres and empowering others through words.
