Ted, 24, a thinktank worker and Conservative voter who describes himself as a free speech absolutist, met Nicky, 58, an executive coach from Essex who has mostly voted Labour, for dinner at Alfi in London E1. The conversation ranged from censorship and the NHS to the monarchy.
Free speech and its limits
Ted said he does not believe in any restrictions on speech, citing the Communications Act 2003 and the Online Safety Act 2023 as leading to arrests for speech offences. He argued that criminalising abhorrent speech is the thin end of the wedge, potentially leading to arrests for perfectly valid points of view.
Nicky challenged him, noting he had caveats, such as on abortion, and that he acknowledged there is a time and place for saying what you think. She said, without sounding patronising, that as he grows older he will tune into the damage unchecked free speech can do.
Ted responded that being able to take offence is not a right, and the right to say what you want is more important. He said he wants to know who holds abhorrent views rather than have them pushed underground. Nicky countered that diminishing someone repeatedly can lead to suicides and anguish, and while she does not believe the government should dictate everything, people should treat others as they wish to be treated.
Healthcare and the monarchy
On healthcare, Nicky said Ted raised the example of Norwegian semi-insurance policies, which she felt drives toward the US position. She said she is a base-level healthcare believer, with a duty of care and emergency treatment for all, and Ted agreed with that.
Ted expressed a desire to abolish the NHS and replace it with a social insurance model, still providing free treatment at the point of need, but with people paying through insurance systems and choosing their level of cover. He said those models deliver far better outcomes for patients.
Nicky said Ted loves the monarchy, and while she would probably vote to abolish it, she respects the tourism it brings and does not resent state payments if they are for work. Ted said he loves the institution, not the people, and believes it is fundamental to the system of governance, which has worked for 1,000 years.
Takeaways
Both said they had a really interesting and fun evening and were glad they had done it. Nicky described Ted as a lovely human being and said she thinks he will evolve, adding: “He’s one to watch!”
