Andy, 62, Stevenage
Occupation Agile coach in technology
Voting record Generally Labour
Amuse bouche He’s just released his first single under the band name MeMe
Louisa, 39, Reading
Occupation Author and marketing and communications professional
Voting record She has voted Labour, Green and Lib Dem, but doesn’t feel loyal to any one party
Amuse bouche Last year, she published a book about how to use your phone less
For starters
Louisa I was quite excited. I thought somebody who would sign up for this would be a person who’s open to intelligent discussion. We got on well.
Andy I wondered what would happen if I straight away threw out a contentious thing, so I asked, “What do you think of Brexit?” We agreed that we both lost out.
Louisa I had a really delicious cheese souffle, then a mushroom pasta with truffle oil, and a nice little tiramisu at the end. It was lovely. We also shared a bottle of red.
Andy I had clams on celeriac – wow, it was fabulous – and seafood spaghetti. I didn’t have a pudding – I like to think because I’m sweet enough, but really it’s because I’m too fat.
The big beef
Andy We discussed whether we should increase immigration, and I said no. Louisa’s side was that she comes from an immigrant background. But I think immigration is used as a political tool, because there is contention and emotion wrapped around it. I wish we could just look at the real numbers, the pros and the values of it, then look at how it would be managed.
Louisa One of my grandfathers was an eastern European refugee who came to Britain to fill the labour shortage after spending four years in a Nazi work camp. We’re always told there’s too many people, but what I’ve never seen is somebody saying, “The number of immigrants that we can maximally fit in this country is X.”
Andy It’s not that I don’t see value in immigration, but I don’t believe we’re managing it very well. Why would you increase something you’re shit at?
Louisa I think the numbers of people coming in is something governments like to pretend is in their control, but it isn’t. Climate change and wars are going to displace people. If you increase aid to other countries and try to solve conflicts, people would be more likely to stay.
Sharing plate
Louisa I think businesses can do more about loudcasting – people having their phones on loud in public spaces. Eighty per cent of people don’t like it, but most are too scared to speak up. There are railway bylaws that prohibit noise disturbing others. I see nothing wrong with enforcing fines if it’s particularly disturbing. And instead of trains having a quiet carriage, there should be one loud carriage.
Andy I agree it’s extremely irritating, but I’d just ask people, “Would you mind turning that down?” I wouldn’t mind a public service advert, like “Be respectful of others regarding your phone”, but I’m not sure we need anything stricter.
For afters
Louisa I think we’re overreliant on cars, and heavier vehicles that cause more wear and tear and potholes. A lot more could be done to encourage other modes of transport and make people more mobile without always relying on cars. Andy feels it’s down to the councils to maintain the roads better.
Andy It doesn’t make me happy to see cars with one person in them. But what options do we have? They’ve cut public transport, they’ve moved shopping centres out of town. What do you do? Fight against the machine all the time to your own detriment? Or do you try not to go out in your car if you can avoid it? I feel there should be a sense of self-management.
Takeaways
Andy She was an extremely nice person and I had a really enjoyable evening. It’s nice to be able to talk to someone and find you have differences of opinion, because if you go into a conversation with the right mindset, those differences don’t need to be anything but healthy.
Louisa There’s all these presumptions that come with certain delicate topics: “If you believe this, you must be this sort of person.” People need to start listening to each other instead of just jumping to conclusions and dismissing people without hearing them out.
Additional reporting: Kitty Drake
• Andy and Louisa ate at Citro, London N6.
Want to meet someone from across the divide? Find out how to take part
