Sunyi, 38, Wakefield
Occupation: Novelist
Voting record: A mix of Labour and Lib Dem, and Green in local elections
Fun fact: She once climbed a tall metal pole during a lightning storm to impress a girl. “She was more amused than impressed.”
Francis, 58, Huddersfield
Occupation: Not working currently, but was a tram driver in Manchester
Voting record: Voted Conservative in the last two elections. If voting today, probably Reform, “but certainly not Labour.”
Fun fact: He once entered a competition to kick a ball from the goalline to the centre circle on the Manchester City football pitch. He got the ball closest to the circle and won a free trip to the 2006 World Cup final.
Getting started:
Francis: I’m pretty confident from dealing with the public in my past work, but I think she was a bit nervous. She might have expected a woman because of my name!
Sunyi: I have a lot of conservative family and talk to people from different backgrounds, so I wasn’t too nervous. He took the time to learn how to say my name properly—most people don’t!
Francis: For starters, I had chicken goujons and dips. For the main, I had pulled brisket and chips with a classic cheeseburger. It was really good. Also a shandy, since I was driving.
Sunyi: I started with mozzarella bites and a cheese dip, and for the main had a burger with onion chutney and brie. It was nice, but there was a lot of it.
The main issue:
Francis: Sunyi told me she was undocumented for several years and didn’t get any help. But she didn’t come by boat; she came by plane and applied. I think people have to come the right way.
Sunyi: You can only claim asylum by arriving here. In my case, I came for university, and the Home Office lost my documents. So I was essentially illegal for four years. It derailed my life. People often say, “Well, that’s a special case,” but every case is special. I think people are good at being kind to someone in front of them, but when it’s abstract, people just become numbers.
Francis: I’m not saying they’re all abusing the system, and I know we only hear about extremes in the press. But we agreed they need to be processed faster. We could use an off-land processing site, like Rwanda. We need to stop the boats to give us breathing room to process those already here.
Sunyi: We agreed the cases need to be processed faster. He thinks the cost must be huge, but I doubt it’s that high. The number of people coming in doesn’t seem, percentage-wise, like a huge amount.
Shared views:
Francis: I don’t understand why we’re still tied to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). We voted for Brexit, so we should be out of anything to do with Europe.
Sunyi: I understand where he’s coming from, but Britain is safer tied to Europe. When the Home Office lost my documents, I was married and my children were born here, so under the ECHR they had the right to stay and I couldn’t be kicked out. Without the ECHR, my lawyer said I’d be expected to leave, reapply, and come back in.
Dessert:
Francis: I’m not against net zero. I just don’t think it’s attainable. Even if we go electric, something has to power it all, and nuclear is only clean until you have waste that has to be managed for 500 years.
Sunyi: Just because we don’t have a solution yet doesn’t mean there won’t ever be one. He calls himself a climate-change denier in that he doesn’t think humans caused it. I think that’s irrelevant; it’s here, it’s doing damage. And he did agree we should be doing more to mitigate the climate changes we’re seeing.Francis I was very strict on immigration, but hearing about her personal struggles has made me a bit more understanding. Not everyone is here to take advantage of the system.
Sunyi mentioned that when we talked about Brexit, he felt public opinion is shifting because many older supporters are passing away, and younger generations have different priorities. I think we reflected that generational divide. Still, it’s useful to keep having conversations with people who see things differently.
Additional reporting: Kitty Drake
Sunyi and Francis dined at Harvey’s Bar/Kitchen in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire.
Interested in meeting someone with opposing views? Learn how to get involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about bridging social and political gaps through personal conversation inspired by the quote provided
General Beginner Questions
Q What does bridging the gap mean in this context
A It means finding common ground and building understanding with someone who has very different views or life experiences from you often through open and respectful conversation
Q How can a simple dinner conversation change someones mind on a big issue like immigration
A Its often not about arguing facts but about hearing a personal story Putting a human face and real emotions to a complex issue can create empathy in a way that news headlines cannot
Q Whats the main benefit of having these kinds of talks
A The main benefit is reducing prejudice and building empathy It helps you see the person behind the political opinion and understand the reallife impacts of policies
Q Is the goal to make everyone agree
A No not at all The goal is mutual understanding not necessarily agreement Its about learning why someone holds their beliefs and humanizing each other
Advanced Practical Questions
Q Whats a common mistake people make when trying to have these conversations
A The biggest mistake is going into the conversation with the goal of winning or debating This puts the other person on the defensive and shuts down open dialogue
Q How do I start a conversation like this without it turning into an argument
A Use openended questions focused on personal experience not politics Instead of What do you think about immigration policy try Have you ever had an experience that shaped your views on this or Whats your biggest concern about this issue
Q What if the other person says something I find offensive or factually wrong
A Avoid immediately correcting them Instead respond with curiosity Ask Can you help me understand what brought you to that conclusion This keeps the conversation going and makes them reflect on their own views
Q Can you give an example of a good followup question
A Sure If someone shares a personal challenge a great followup is That sounds really difficult How did that experience change your perspective This shows youre listening and want to understand their journey
