Samuel, 34, London
Occupation Communications professional
Political affiliation He left the Labour party after long-term membership to join the Greens, his new political home.
Interesting tidbit Is the author of a humorous book exploring the dogs of famous thinkers.
Cat, 24, London
Profession Formerly worked supporting homeless individuals in a hospital setting.
Voting record Cast her first ballot for the Lib Dems as a tactical vote, later voting Green.
Interesting tidbit Her dissertation was inspired by time spent working in a mortuary after being sent home from university.
The Meeting
Catrina He had a radiant smile and a lively, energetic personality. His eye-catching pink suit was, he mentioned, his wedding attire.
Samuel I thought she was great. She’d just got back from four months trekking the Silk Road, I was slightly jealous. She was very intellectually curious, obviously a good talker. The conversation flowed.
Catrina The menu was an eclectic fusion, blending German and Korean influences. I chose a hotdog, we shared an oyster, and enjoyed some cocktails.
Samuel I opted for a lobster roll and an oyster starter, dessert was a Korean-style doughnut.
The Main Course
Catrina When I say I think there’s too much immigration, I’m basing that off the 900,000 figure, which I think is from 2023. My reasoning is that if we’re thinking about migration as something that happens not just to the UK but to the world, in many cases the UK government is recruiting workers from countries like west Africa, where there’s a skills shortage. I don’t think that’s an ethical thing to do.
Samuel Her position isn't rooted in xenophobia but in a ethical concern about global brain drain. Our need for foreign doctors and nurses, she feels, exacerbates shortages abroad. I likened it to a well-known comedy routine, which she admitted was a favourite.
Catrina A significant portion of migration figures are international students, and universities have financial incentives to enrol them. While I cherish our multicultural society, the current system seems flawed.
Samuel I grasped her argument. However, the draw of our world-class universities is powerful. The issue isn't the students themselves, but a system that prioritises revenue over societal good.
Side Dishes
Catrina On so-called 'woke' culture, I believe it has overreached. My criticism is that it often focuses too much on personal behaviour rather than systemic change. Problems like racism are embedded in society; making it purely individual can deter people from the conversation.
Samuel Catrina and I are probably thinking of people like Ash Sarkar or Slavoj Žižek, who argue that the problem with woke culture is that it’s dividing the left. It doesn’t need a debate: you treat human beings as you’d like to be treated, you go through life showing love and respect, and people return it to you.
Dessert
Catrina I was less optimistic than Sam regarding AI's promise. In my view, social media algorithms are poisoning our political discourse and eroding life satisfaction.
Samuel I can't deny the negative spiral social media can create. However, I focus on technology's historical trajectory—centuries of innovation driven by our innate curiosity and need for connection. AI, for instance, is revolutionising medical diagnostics like cancer screening.
Takeaways
Catrina I got his number. He was such a pleasant individual; I'd definitely welcome another conversation.
Samuel Her gift was a postcard from Kazakhstan, depicting a beautiful mural painted on a derelict industrial wall. I found it profoundly moving. It made me reflect on my own capacity for such thoughtful gestures.
