Dining across the divide: Three strikes and you're locked up for ever how would we pay for that?'

"For starters Lewis I was early but Tim was already there. He was very approachable, a good listener. Obviously, there was an age difference, but no awkward moments and conversation flowed. Tim The restaurant was loud, but the food was delicious. We shared starters trout in coconut milk and their take on a fish finger sandwich. For mains, we both had half a smoked chicken."

"We had a clear difference of opinion around criminal justice. The current system, to my eyes, is broken, a never-ending cycle of repeat offending. I believe when someone goes to prison they shouldn't be locked up 23 hours a day doing nothing; there needs to be a focus on rehabilitation. Tim It was good that he mentioned rehabilitation."

"Occupation Retired software engineer Voting record Labour, but Liberal Democrats when Jeremy Corbyn was Labour leader. Says he's centre left. Voted remain in the EU referendum Amuse bouche Last year, Tim went to Burning Man festival. He wore a boiler suit covered in LEDs, which was way too bright, and annoyed everybody"

Tim is a retired software engineer who voted Labour (and Liberal Democrat during Jeremy Corbyn's leadership), describes himself as centre left, and voted Remain. Last year he attended Burning Man wearing an LED-covered boiler suit that annoyed others. Lewis, 27 from Essex, is a logistics manager, has always voted Conservative (and served as a Tory councillor), describes himself as centre right, and voted Leave. They met for dinner, shared starters and smoked chicken mains, and found conversation flowed despite an age gap. They discussed education and careers, and clashed over criminal justice, with Lewis calling the system broken and advocating rehabilitation in prison.

Read at www.theguardian.com