Bruno, 45, Liverpool
Occupation Communications and advertising and marketing supervisor, and a movie curator and programmer
Voting document Can solely vote in native elections, as an EU citizen; votes Labour
Amuse bouche Has a world certification as a wine taster. He’s observed that individuals who smoke wrestle a bit. Past that, anyone may be educated to take pleasure in wine differently
Michael, 55, Liverpool
Occupation Paramedic by coaching; at present on sick go away
Voting document Not too long ago spoiled his poll paper, but when he had voted, it might have been for Reform
Amuse bouche Was educated in crusing by the Royal Navy as a reservist – or “half‑time puddle pirate”. Used to work as a yacht skipper in Greece
For starters
Bruno I used to be anticipating a really hardcore ideological method from Michael, and we had an lively dialogue. He was very well mannered and fairly open.
Michael Bruno regarded like an expert businessman. I used to be simply good informal, he was extra suited and booted.
Bruno I had octopus salad, braised beef and a creme brulee.
Michael I had rooster paté, then beef.
The massive beef
Bruno I didn’t really feel he had something towards me, personally, coming right here from Portugal. He used that unhappy argument about infrastructure, that the UK doesn’t have sufficient for everyone who needs to return in. He talked about shared values, that individuals coming in can’t reside in a bubble. It is a harmful discourse; I can’t relate to it. I shared the expertise we now have in Portugal. We now have a number of variety due to the previous colonies; it’s completely potential to handle this with out populism.
Michael We’ve had far an excessive amount of immigration over a brief interval. Britain will not be a giant nation – you may solely have a sure variety of individuals per sq. mile; after that you just may as properly reside in Hong Kong. We see countryside getting destroyed to construct new housing or to place wind generators on. It’s not simply railways and roads, the NHS is getting slaughtered. I don’t suppose it’s successive governments operating down the NHS, it’s as a result of there are too many sufferers.
Bruno Possibly we now have A&E full of people that in all probability shouldn’t be there, however the duty is with the system to have extra GPs, well being centres – to shift individuals from hospitals.
Michael Once I was a baby, you by no means noticed an ambulance on the street. They solely got here out to individuals who have been dying. Folks had self-respect and self-sufficiency. If they might make their very own means, they’d.
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Sharing plate
Bruno Brexit was attention-grabbing: he mentioned he voted go away, and he thinks it was the suitable resolution. However he acknowledges that the UK is worse now than it was earlier than, the Conservative authorities didn’t make issues occur as they need to have. So he’s ambivalent, and we agreed on that half.
Michael Britain joined what was as soon as the European Financial Group. Over time, that morphed into this behemoth referred to as the EU. I perceived it as a essentially anti-democratic system. What’s the purpose of me voting for a member of parliament to signify me, if we’ve obtained a bunch of unelected individuals overriding our sovereignty?
Bruno Yet one more factor we truly agreed upon: there was in all probability a resolution to the sovereignty query, that wasn’t about leaving or staying. The UK may have stayed within the EU with completely different guidelines.
Michael I nonetheless suppose Brexit was a chance wasted, and a part of that’s all the way down to the inertia of bureaucracies. There have been individuals within the civil service attempting to scupper authorities plans.
For afters
Michael I used to be in a really obscure department of the Navy that handled service provider transport. Folks within the west have been seeing this humanitarian disaster in Gaza within the early 2000s, saying, “They’ve obtained no medicines, meals, constructing supplies.” Hamas had constructing materials, all proper. However they have been constructing tunnels.
Bruno He blamed Hamas for what is going on in Gaza, however ultimately, he wasn’t capable of disagree with me in regards to the humanitarian issues. He didn’t attempt to persuade me of issues, and that was very refreshing. And I don’t know if I satisfied him, however ultimately, it’s laborious for somebody to say, “I don’t have any humanitarian issues.”
Takeaways
Bruno I feel he feels marginalised, and so he’s come to a really nationalist view: Britain for the Brits.
Michael He appears a real, switched-on bloke. I feel we’ve obtained much more frequent floor than disagreements.
Extra reporting: Kitty Drake
Bruno and Michael ate at Wreck Bistro in Liverpool.
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