Dining across the divide: views on migration and politics

Louise, 52, and Darryl, 61, met for dinner at Muse Brasserie in Bristol and found they enjoyed each other’s company. Louise described Darryl as bubbly and kind; Darryl praised the food — Indian and British, not too spicy — and noted she was a vegetarian who didn’t mind him eating meat.

They shared a gruyere soufflé and mushroom croquettes. The conversation turned to migration. Darryl said he came to the UK from the Kenyan exodus at age four, noting his family had British passports and had every right to be here. He backed stricter controls, said he is a fan of Shabana Mahmood as home secretary and argued it is unfair for people to cross the Channel and then queue to enter the country, adding that “just saying everyone who wants to reduce illegal migration is racist doesn’t get us very far.” Louise said she would allow desperate people in and wants many more safe routes to apply for asylum, but stopped short of supporting open borders within the society we live in.

They also discussed party politics.

United Kingdom, Bristol

migration, asylum, illegal migration, channel crossings, shabana mahmood, home secretary, kenyan exodus, british passports, safe routes, bristol