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Nick, 50, Manchester
Occupation Venture supervisor
Voting document Over the previous 20 years he has voted Labour, Tory, Lib Dem and Inexperienced. Describes himself as politically pretty centrist, socially pretty liberal
Amuse bouche Nick was as soon as the lead singer in a rock band known as Carbon. They virtually received signed, then weren’t
Nadia, 49, Preston
Occupation Headhunter
Voting document Labour, however needs Andy Burnham was chief
Amuse bouche When she was “younger and naive”, to indicate a white good friend at college it’s what Asians do, Nadia ate two inexperienced chillies. What the good friend didn’t know was they have been salad chillies; he then ate a scorching one
For starters
Nadia I used to be fairly nervous, however Nick walked in on the similar time so it was good to not be ready. I used to be anticipating somebody extra hippyish and socialist-looking, however he was dressed fairly conservatively in denims and a jacket.
Nick I shortly felt comfortable with Nadia. We have been united by the actual fact that there have been some issues on the menu we didn’t perceive. I had pasta with shredded braised beef, a sort of posh spaghetti bolognese, and panna cotta. We each had a ginger ale.
Nadia I’m from a working-class background: my mother and father have been immigrants, my dad was a bus driver. I lived in a terrace home in a predominantly Asian space rising up.
Nick I’m from a reasonably privileged background; I went to a non-public college, college. I’ve by no means thought, “God, how am I going to pay the fuel invoice.”
The large beef
Nadia I lived in Qatar for 4 years. How the media portrays it and the fact are various things. We talked about their views on homosexual rights, and so forth; I stated, “Most of their legislation relies on the Qur’an – it’s not only for homosexual {couples}; single {couples} can’t keep in a lodge in Qatar.” They allow you to get on with life so long as you’re not flaunting it, like smoking hashish on this nation.
Nick It was a mistake for the World Cup to be held there, pushed by cash. It was nice to see folks protesting about it. However I even have an excessive amount of sympathy with the narrative that claims you may’t wade into one other nation and say the white, western approach of doing issues is greatest. As we have been speaking about respecting different cultures, I requested: “What do you consider the banning of headscarves in French faculties?”
Nadia I couldn’t see why you’d ban one thing that doesn’t have an effect on anyone else’s studying. How does a hijab cease others from studying? Nick stated it’s as a result of France relies on a secular system, the place they don’t enable any sorts of religion. That’s one thing I’ll lookup and attempt to perceive.
Nick I’m fairly cynical about organised faith. A part of me needed to applaud when the French stated there must be no shows of faith in faculties. However after they stated you may’t put on the burkini on the seaside, I believed, “Cling on, that doesn’t really feel proper.”
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Sharing plate
Nadia I hadn’t realised it can actually be tough for privileged, white, middle-class men. You don’t realise the fear factor, like when they think they’re using the wrong terminology. Like he said, “Am I allowed to call you Asian?” I said, “Yeah.”
Nick Though we’re from different societal backgrounds, our politics and worldviews are quite closely aligned. We just disagreed about some details.
For afters
Nick The one thing we fundamentally disagreed on was cycle lanes.
Nadia We do not need more cycle lanes! They’re using taxpayers’ money, they cause disruption, and the only people using them are champagne socialists, who have the money to get the right gear. The lower socio-economic groups don’t have bikes.
Nick As far as green infrastructure is concerned, every single one of us needs to be inconvenienced in order to change. I’d be totally in favour of Andy Burnham saying you can’t take your car into Manchester, as it inconveniences people into making a change. Building a load of cycle lanes is part of that, and if it inconveniences drivers – well, tough shit.
Takeaways
Nadia It was lovely. Listening to other people’s views can help you crystallise your own and help you consider whether you’re thinking broadly.
Nick I took away that you shouldn’t be afraid to have conversations about race and cultural identity as long as you do it with a willingness to learn.
Additional reporting: Kitty Drake
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