Callum, 19, a pre-trade surveyor from Southend, and Emma, 31, a solicitor from London, sat down for dinner at El Pirata in London to discuss their differing views on the monarchy, national flags, and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The conversation was part of the 'Dining across the divide' series.
First Impressions
Callum admitted he was surprised by Emma's strong opinions. 'She wasn't the kind of person I expected to be as opinionated as she was,' he said. Emma noted Callum's polished appearance: 'He was in a lovely suit, with his hair slicked back, and he just looked like a young Conservative.'
The Monarchy Debate
Callum defended the monarchy, arguing it is deeply rooted in British history and provides stability for the armed forces. 'The monarchy is not something that can just be abolished or got rid of because maybe a landscape's changed politically or opinion has changed,' he said. Emma questioned the logic of swearing allegiance to a monarch, suggesting it is arbitrary. 'Nobody swears allegiance to Donald Trump; you do it for the nation,' she countered. Callum acknowledged her point about royal scandals but remained unconvinced. 'She said nobody should be above the law, and that's true, but ours aren't. Consequences of their actions hit them.'
National Flag and Identity
On the topic of the St George's Cross, Callum argued that the flag represents national identity and should not be removed to appease newcomers. 'The meaning of a flag cannot be changed by who hangs it; it still represents the national identity,' he said. Emma admitted she finds the flag 'yucky' but does not feel threatened. Callum added that some working-class people use the flag to say, 'We're here, don't ignore us.'
ECHR Discussion
The conversation turned to the ECHR. Emma jokingly asked, 'Who do you want to torture?' referring to Article 3. Callum denied wanting to torture anyone but criticized the ECHR for overreach. 'The ECHR has some serious overreach, and calls into question whether we're being governed by an elected body, or an unelected body, the European Union,' he said.
Final Thoughts
Despite their differences, both left with positive impressions. Callum described Emma as 'very nice, very lovely.' Emma praised Callum: 'He didn't give weird, Andrew Tate vibes. He was very anti-misogyny. He contained multitudes.' Callum, who has raced motorcycles, and Emma, who crochets in a hammock, found common ground in their willingness to engage respectfully.
