Martyn, 44, from Sheffield, and Alan, 62, from Cleethorpes, sat down for a meal as part of the Dining Across the Divide series. Despite their political differences, they found the evening enjoyable and enlightening.
First Impressions
Alan described Martyn as a nice, friendly, and open person, pleased that he wasn't confrontational. Martyn, in turn, found Alan welcoming despite their apparent differences. Over starters of calamari and haddock house special, they began their conversation.
The Climate Debate
Alan questioned the severity of climate change, citing reports that hurricanes are not more frequent than in the past. He expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of measures like electric cars. Martyn, an environmentalist, believes climate change is human-made and showed Alan a graphic to illustrate his point. Alan remained unconvinced, preferring direct evidence over graphs. Martyn felt he might have made Alan think a bit more about the issue.
Immigration Discussion
Alan referred to recent arrivals as 'illegals' and expressed concern about border control, noting that 70,000 people have arrived in 18 months. Martyn argued that asylum routes are limited and that many are fleeing horrific situations. Alan agreed that claiming asylum should be easier but stressed the need for controlled borders. Martyn disagreed with Alan's support for requiring citizenship for indefinite stay, calling it 'a little cruel.'
After Dinner
The two continued their conversation at a local pub, enjoying beers. Martyn woke up with a hangover but described the night as 'really good fun' and 'brilliant.' Alan also enjoyed the evening, noting they went to the last true pub in Cleethorpes.
