In a Birmingham restaurant, two men from opposing ends of Britain's political spectrum sat down for a meal that would test the limits of civil discourse. Amrit, a 32-year-old immigration solicitor, and Jon, a 67-year-old Reform UK voter, came together for The Guardian's 'Dining Across the Divide' series, navigating a minefield of topics from grooming gangs to the merits of activist Tommy Robinson.
A Meeting of Opposing Minds
The dinner took place at Itihaas in Birmingham. Amrit, who has always voted Labour but is now leaning towards the Greens or Jeremy Corbyn's Your Party, works daily with immigrants and asylum seekers. Jon, a former long-term Conservative voter who switched to Reform in 2024, runs a small IT support company and holds strong views on Islam and immigration.
Despite the potential for conflict, the pair reported getting on well, talking until the restaurant's closing time. Amrit enjoyed a butter paneer, while Jon opted for lamb with poppadoms and rice, joking he should know the dish names better as he is "married to a bloody Asian."
The Core of the Conflict: Islam and 'Good vs Bad' Immigrants
The conversation quickly moved to substantive issues. Jon expressed a belief that Muslims want to 'take over', referencing the growing number of Muslim mayors and making a debunked claim about an MP campaigning for UK government funding for a Pakistani airport. He argued that while immigration can be healthy, "Islam is an exception to that rule."
Amrit challenged these views directly, asking if Jon had ever read the Qur'an (he hadn't) and countering his points on grooming gangs. The solicitor argued that sexual abuse scandals are not exclusive to any one religion, citing examples within Sikh, Hindu, and Catholic communities. From his professional experience, Amrit sees immigrants as people fleeing persecution, not coming to steal jobs or benefits. He concluded that for Jon, the issue seemed to distill into a simplistic division between "good immigrant and bad immigrant."
Tommy Robinson and Confirmed Stereotypes
The debate extended to the controversial figure of Tommy Robinson, the former English Defence League leader. Jon declared himself "Team Tommy," praising his principles despite his rough background and past BNP membership. Amrit took a firm legalistic stance, simply stating Robinson is a criminal because he has been convicted of crimes.
By the end of the meal, both men felt their preconceptions were reinforced, yet valued the exchange. Jon left believing the encounter confirmed his stereotype of a Guardian reader, someone who would "swear he could see the light" despite presented facts. Amrit's key takeaway was the importance of listening to the other side, even if he found many of Jon's points rooted in conspiracy theories. He would meet for coffee again, but would likely avoid the topic of Islam.
The experiment, documented by The Guardian, highlights the deep and often personal divides in British society over immigration, identity, and integration, played out over a curry in England's second city.
