A 21-year-old Conservative social media manager and a 39-year-old transport psychology researcher sat down for a meal in Birmingham, finding common ground on the pension triple lock while disagreeing over Palestine Action.
First impressions
Hugo, a Conservative party social media manager from Birmingham, described William as "a really reasonable, nice guy." William, a researcher in transport psychology, was "very surprised to meet someone committed to Conservatism at such a young age" but found Hugo "very articulate" and knowledgeable about policies.
The big beef: Palestine Action
The pair's sharpest disagreement came over Palestine Action, a group that has targeted arms factories. Hugo argued that the group is a terrorist organisation, citing recent sentencing of four members. "He wasn't aware that one of those quote-unquote protesters hit a policewoman with a sledgehammer," Hugo said. William countered that the sentences were too harsh, suggesting community service instead, and noted that the group believed they were destroying weapons used in a genocide. Both agreed that what is happening in Gaza is a genocide.
Sharing plate: The triple lock
Hugo raised moral issues with the pension triple lock, arguing it benefits the wealthiest generation while young families struggle. "I'm not even counting on having a pension," he said. William was struck by Hugo's selflessness: "He's saying, 'We should have something less expensive and invest elsewhere,' assuming he wasn't personally going to benefit. I didn't realise the triple lock was so expensive, and now I'm not sure it is viable."
For afters: Rwanda scheme and human rights
Hugo defended the Rwanda asylum scheme as popular with voters, criticising the European Court of Human Rights for blocking it. William maintained the need for an international gatekeeper of rights, saying "sometimes what the population expresses isn't what's best for the population."
Takeaways
William said, "When you sit down with someone from the Conservative party, it was much closer to what he believed than he realised." Hugo added, "I was proud of myself for getting him to that point." The two connected on LinkedIn after the meal.
