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Dining across the divide: ‘He talked about replacing the House of Lords with some kind of Joe Bloggs House of Representatives’

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June 28, 2026 · 1:21 PM
Dining across the divide: ‘He talked about replacing the House of Lords with some kind of Joe Bloggs House of Representatives’

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Gavin (left) and Tony. Photographs: Sam Frost/The Guardian

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Gavin (left) and Tony. Photographs: Sam Frost/The Guardian

Dining across the divideLife and style

Dining across the divide: ‘He talked about replacing the House of Lords with some kind of Joe Bloggs House of Representatives’

A psychotherapist and a town councillor might not see eye to eye on a citizens’ assembly, but did one of them have a change of heart about the monarchy?

Want to meet someone from across the divide? Click here to find out how

Erica Buist

Sun 28 Jun 2026 07.00 EDT

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Gavin, 70, Stroud

Occupation Retired, and a town councillor. Previously, he was an industrial chemist, a business systems analyst, and a debt specialist for Citizens Advice

Voting record Lib Dem, Green, and Labour tactically to get the Tories out

Amuse bouche When he graduated he worked in the petrochemical industry and was appalled by their business practices. Now he supports Just Stop Oil

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Tony, 60, Gloucestershire

Occupation Psychotherapist and company director in the health and social care sector

Voting record Lib Dem

Amuse bouche He has a pig called Colin who likes belly rubs and being sung to. When Colin got too big to be in the house,he “married” and moved in with Dolores, their Toulouse goose, from whom he is now inseparable

For starters

TonyWe got on – it’s always such a pleasure to talk to people who are bright and interested. I’ve recently had surgery on my jaw, which means I can’t chew, but my son is the head chef at the restaurant so he adapted the dishes to make them nice and soft!

Gavin Most of my family are much more rightwing than me and I don’t talk politics at home for fear of upsetting people, so I was excited to meet Tony.

TonyI had a local IPA to drink. For starters I had liver parfait with caramelised red onion jam, and for main I had chicken and leek pie on a bed of colcannon and crushed peas, and sorbet for dessert. Just delicious.

GavinI started with the parfait, followed by the baked hake, which was exquisite. I had a cider to drink, and for dessert I had one scoop of pistachio and one scoop of mango sorbet.

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The big beef

Dining across the divide: ‘I suggested we add each other on social media. He said, I don’t see that we’d ever meet again’ Read more

TonyI’m very pro-monarchy. I think King Charles’s takedown of Donald Trump on his tour to the States should secure him his monarchy for the next 20 years. I also think the crown’s stewardship over land and tenancies means conservation and farming is not subject to political flip-flops.

GavinI’m in favour of getting rid of the monarchy and replacing it with a nominal head of state. I do think King Charles is doing a good job, but Britain needs to be more forward-looking.

TonyI worked in the addictions field for many years and we were looking to create the first community-based rehab programme for young heroin and crack users. Prince Charles, as he was then, funded it, and invited these kids with us to a garden party at Highgrove House. I think his values are great.

GavinI have to say Tony’s arguments did influence me. I’m happy for King Charles to continue, although I would like the funding to be looked at a bit more closely.

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Sharing plate

TonyI don’t think the triple-lock pension is sustainable. I understand the need to avoid pensioner poverty, but if you’ve got a corporate pension that pays you £150,000, then get a triple‑locked pension on top, that’s not OK.

GavinI’m in receipt of my state pension, and an occupational pension, plus I’ve paid off my mortgage – so I find life pretty comfortable. But a higher proportion of the welfare budget needs to go to working-age people and youth. We agreed it should be means tested so people like me would not receive a supplemented triple-lock state retirement pension.

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For afters

TonyGavin was talking about replacing the House of Lords with some kind of Joe Bloggs House of Representatives. That doesn’t feel like it would be populated by the kind of people that I’d want to make life-changing decisions in the public interest.

GavinI’m 100% behind replacing the house with a citizens’ assembly, like in ancient Athens when councillors were selected by lottery and replaced every year. It would make for colourful leadership and decisions, and not those influenced by big corporations. I’m a bit of a radical in that respect.

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Takeaways

TonyIt showed me how important it is that we don’t get stuck in polarised worldviews that make it almost impossible to have reasoned discussion and debate. The face-to-face element does make a difference, without doubt.

GavinHe influenced me as far as my views on monarchy are concerned, and to some extent on the triple lock. Despite the fact that I fear for my partner ending up with a menagerie of animals, I wouldn’t be surprised if we all meet up for a meal.

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Additional reporting: Kitty Drake

Tony and Gavin ate at The White Hart in Winchcombe, Gloucestershire

Want to meet someone from across the divide? Find out how to take part

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