A 77-year-old retired teacher and a 25-year-old resident doctor met for dinner in Birmingham to discuss their differences and find common ground. Liz, who lived in France for 30 years, and Saima, whose grandfather migrated from Pakistan in the 1970s, talked about flags, the NHS, and pensions.
First Impressions
Liz said: “When I saw Saima I thought: ‘We’re going to get on.’ She was smiley and lovely. We talked about travelling: she’s done Europe, I’ve travelled a lot.”
Saima said: “I had an idea about the kind of person I was going to meet, and Liz fitted that in terms of age and race. We’re not so different politically; I think she’s more Green than I am. I was born in Dudley; my grandfather migrated to the UK from Pakistan in the 70s.”
The Flags Debate
Liz expressed concern about the proliferation of England flags in south Birmingham. “I don’t want them. I’ve spoken to people in shops around here, they’re concerned that it’s racist.” She added that she would not put an England flag in her window during the World Cup because “everyone would see it as racist.”
Saima said she had seen a road with St George’s cross, Scottish flag and Irish flag, and said: “I quite like that – these are our flags, it feels inclusive. I’ve never felt anything against the union jack and St George’s cross. It’s a mark of our national identity as much as Buckingham Palace.”
Common Ground on the NHS
Both agreed on the value of the NHS. Saima said: “We had a positive discussion about the NHS. It has its problems but we both think that a universal free-access healthcare service is a big plus.”
Pensions and the Triple Lock
Liz praised the triple lock: “I think the triple lock is great because it guarantees my pension. … It’s good for me, and a lot of people rely on that.” Saima acknowledged the political sensitivity, saying: “I can understand why it’s not been touched, because pensioners are more likely to vote. … But equally you have to recognise we have a declining birthrate, an increasing number of pensioners and a smaller working‑age population. In the future, it might become a difficult conversation.”
Takeaways
Liz said: “It was a lovely evening. Saima gave me a lift home, and took a photo of us in the car. … I told her if I went I’d give her a ring.” Saima added: “As a pensioner, Liz has a free bus pass but it was 10pm and we both live in south Birmingham – I wasn’t going to let her get the bus home.”
Liz and Saima ate at The Mayan in Birmingham.
